The transition from little girl to young woman isn’t always easy. Puberty can be a very tricky time for young girls who aren’t prepared for the changes happening to their body. As a former charm and etiquette instructor for middle school age girls I know firsthand the issues many young girls face when their body begins developing into womanhood, particularly if those changes happen before or after peers and classmates. Rolling out had the opportunity to talk to “Growing Up Hip Hop” star Ayanna Fite about her experiences going through puberty early.
“I started puberty really early. I got my period at 8 and my breasts started growing in elementary school. By middle school, I was wearing a double D bra,” Fite recalls.
Entering puberty prematurely had additional consequences for Fite because she was extremely uncomfortable in her body. She mentions the attention from boys and even grown men was a problem, but says the bigger problem is the fact that she was bullied by other girls because of the attention she received from boys. “I didn’t talk to anyone about what I was going through. I was always getting in fights and ended up going to five different high schools,” she says. “For most of my childhood, my parents just thought I was a bad kid. They didn’t know why I kept getting into so much trouble. It all stemmed from me not being comfortable and from the attention I received from the kids around me. It was a really bad time.”
Today, Fite is preparing for a breast reduction surgery to reduce her bust to a more functional size. While many young women are looking to get a bigger bustline, Fite is dealing with health issues because of her large bust. “You hear people say they wish they had bigger boobs and don’t understand why I would want to do it, but it’s not just about physical. I’ve had back pain and neck pain for years. I have a small frame and my breasts aren’t proportionate with my body,” she says. Fite makes it clear that she waited until she was an adult before making the decision and feels it’s important for young women to know their body completely before making a permanent choice to have surgery. She also encourages young people to talk to someone they trust if they are being bullied.
