It’s hard to imagine bubbly sisters Mikaela and Eliza as anything other than the down-to-earth gorgeous young women they are today.
Beloved by all their competing teams, the Western Australian pro surfers are renowned for their laid-back, easygoing attitudes. So, it may come as a huge shock to fans the learn that House Rules’ Mikaela was the victim of bullying during school.
WATCH EXCLUSIVE House Rules: Quick questions with Eliza & Mikaela
“I was bullied all through high school – incessantly bullied,” the 24-year-old tells New Idea. “I was very sporty. There were a lot of guys who were intimidated by that.
“I do remember one group of boys ranked the girls from hottest to the least hot and I was definitely in the bottom third.”
One of the stars of Channel Seven’s popular tv show, Mikaela describes herself as a “late bloomer” during high school. “Everyone goes through that awkward stage from a kid to teenager to adult,” she says. “It was not a good time for me.”
However, just like her attitude towards House Rules, the sportswoman remained positive through the tough experience, but it was hard work.
“When you’re in the middle of it, you take it as it comes, “she recalls.
“I took it on the chin.”
Remembering back to her school days, reality TV star Mikaela says there were two things which saved her. “I spent a lot of lunchtimes in the library,” she says. “I got into reading, I became quite a bookworm and I found solace in my sport.“I’ve got a thick skin and I was like, if you can’t join them, beat them. I was more than happy to beat everyone at sport! It made me want to beat them more.”
Unlike her older sister, Eliza, 21, wasn’t the victim of bullying – but she did stick up for her sibling!
“Eliza was very popular,” Mikaela says. “She had a good year group. They were very surfing-oriented.”Eliza adds: “We have always been close. We’ve always had each other’s backs.”
But it wasn’t just Mikaela among the House Rules Australia teams who had suffered from bullying. Fellow contestant Katie also struggled during her school years.
“I definitely went through an awkward stage,” Katie, 29, admits. “I had really bad teeth. I was just an awkward kid. I definitely wasn’t the most attractive kid and I was really shy and quiet.“I was left out of things. I was never chosen for anything.”
However, things really turned around for the first time once she reached high school. “I asked my parents to send me to boarding school,” she explains.
“It’s just where I thought I needed to be. I needed to not have the safety net of my family.“The kids were different, it was in the country, everyone was more relaxed and welcoming.“I got into a lot of sport, which helped. I wasn’t really into sport until that point. I was in every single sporting team. I put my hand up for everything.”
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