High school: for some it can be paradise while for others it can be the worst. Adolescents face a series of changes, not only hormonal but social. High schools are micro-environments where students are governed by unwritten rules that everyone knows. It must be said that there is always the social pressure to belong to the group of cool kids and not fall into the less favorable labels within the social structure, and much worse, be that person who is teased by other classmates. This is something that, no matter in what decade we are or what we call it, it has always existed and will exist.

But the truth is that we have all gone through that uncomfortable period during our youth. Although each person has had a different experience, the reality is that high school is one of those experiences - good or bad- that is almost impossible to avoid in our lives, and it is not something unique for us the "mortals", even our favorite celebrities at some point went through the corridors of some school. But today we will talk about those celebrities who were teased during their school years and who today enjoy fame, glory, and recognition around the world, when at some point in their lives nobody believed in them.

20 Rihanna Was Too Light-Skinned

When we think of Rihanna, the first thing that crosses our mind is irreverence and personality. And of course, Rihanna does not seem to be the kind of woman you want to mess with, but RiRi went through bullying when she was younger.

During an interview for Allure in 2008, RiRi explained that she was bullied at school. "I did not understand, I just knew I saw people from all different shades and I was light". She said explaining that her classmates made fun of her because she was very "white".

According to her biography on Wikipedia, Rihanna's great jump to fame came in 2005 with her debut album "Music of the Sun" and since then has remained among the favorites of the music charts with hits like "Work", "Diamonds"," Umbrella "," SOS", and " Unfaithful".

In fact, in 2017 her wealth was valued at $230 million dollars, so we can say that RiRi got the best revenge: success.

19 Ed Sheeran The Ginger

One of our favorite redheads in the music industry. Ed Sheeran is a singer, songwriter and record producer who, according to his biography on Wikipedia, achieved fame and worldwide recognition after actor Jamie Foxx took him under his wing in 2010, both met in L.A  after Ed got an invitation to perform at the Foxxhole actor's club, Foxx was so impressed by Sheeran's performance that he decided to invite him to stay at his house.

But not everything was always glory and success for our favorite redhead.

On several occasions the singer has expressed for various media that in his youth he was teased by some children at school due to the color of his hair, and being a weird kid.

During the American Stuttering Gala in 2015, Sheeran said in his speech "I was a very, very weird child. Very weird child. And I had a port-wine stain birthmark on my face that I got lasered off when I was very young, and one day they forgot to put the anesthetic on, and then ever since then I had a stutter. And I also had very, very big blue NHS glasses. And I lacked an eardrum on one side of my face—one side of my ear—so stuttering was actually the least of my problems when I went to school".

18 Taylor Swift's Music Was "Uncool"

Taylor Swift shows that there is nothing that can stop her from achieving the things she wants, also she has shown us her versatility by going from singer and composer of country music to princess of pop.

Although Swift has a reputation for being a mess in her love life, in her teenage years she had other problems besides love.

On many occasions, Taylor has let us know that she never belonged to the cool kids and many of her classmates used to mock her and her music.

During an interview for Teen Vogue in 2009, Taylor said: "The kids at school thought it was weird that I liked country [music]". "They'd make fun of me."

But this beautiful blonde got her revenge by achieving her dreams and becoming one of the most important female artists of the moment. She emphasized in that interview that during the first years of her career she returned to her hometown and saw some of the girls who used to tease her waiting for her autograph, to which Taylor confessed "They showed up, wearing my T-shirts and asking me to sign their CDs," says Swift. "It was bittersweet because it made me realize that they did not remember being mean to me and that I needed to forget about it, too."

17 Christian Bale Got Famous Too Soon

Christian Bale: it is hard to picture one of the most desirable men in Hollywood as a guy who used to be mocked in school, but he was. This English actor is known for movies such as "Empire of the Sun" (1987), "American Psycho" (2000), "The Machinist" (2004), and for the role of Batman, one of the DC Comics superheroes in "Batman Begins "(2005)," The Dark Knight "(2008), and " The Dark Knight Rises "(2012).

Due to his rise to fame when he was 13 years old due to the Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" movie, Bale had a difficult return to school because his jealous classmates chose him as their target. According to the Digital Spy website, the actor stated, "It was not a great time, I was a victim of bullying and had other kids kicking and punching me every day," Bale explained. "It was an early lesson in how making a film can set you apart. If you do not want to live with the consequences then do not make the film." He also added "But that did not help at the time. I was confused about other people's reactions to me, both good and bad."

16 Kylie Jenner's Show Made Her A Target

Yes! Although it sounds impossible even Kylie Jenner was mocked during her adolescence. The youngest of the Kardashian clan confessed during an interview for the Interview Magazine, that she used to be a target in her school due to the fame of her family.

"Yeah, pretty much ever since I was nine since the show started, there's been so much bullying towards me".

In another interview for the magazine Wonderland, she said: 'Growing up, I've heard the worst things anyone could ever say about me and bullying was such a big part of my life, with the whole world judging me and stuff. " The reality tv star also added 'So I started to look towards people with, like, I think, bigger, more real issues than I have. They inspired me because I was like, I'm getting bullied all the time, but they're just haters and [these people] deal with real-life issues."

Since Kylie gave birth to her first daughter Stormi with rapper Travis Scott she has tried to keep her life more private and out of the spotlight.

15 Daniel Radcliffe Had Sass For His Bullies

Daniel Radcliffe: his jump to fame came in early 2000 when he was select to play Harry Potter in the film adaptation of the English author J.K Rowling's books.

From that moment Daniel stole the hearts of the spectators at only 11 years of age, although that did not make him immune from dealing with bullies. According to the Telegraph UK and Showbusiness editor, Anita Singh, Radcliffe opened up during an interview about his years being teased. He said "I was not the most popular kid in school, because I'd been with some really genuinely witty people over the last few years, I could turn round to these idiots and at least try and tear them apart. They did not like that I'm not saying I was Oscar Wilde at 14, but I had a line for anything they could throw at me." He also added, "I'd never been one of the cool kids [but] you realize that all the kids that were really cool at your school were actually scuzzy and horrible and boring."

"The nerds are the ones that make the films and do loads of other really cool stuff in their life. "

14 Chris Colfer Trapped In The Locker

Chris Colfer is an actor and singer of American origin who achieved fame thanks to his role of Kurt Hummel on the hit television singing series Glee during the years 2009-2015. And like the rest of the celebrities on this list, he suffered bullying during his youth, but for Colfer was not only a matter of belonging to the popular kids or dealing with bullies, the actor also had internal struggles.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor told his experience at school during his teen years and said, "I was very tiny. I spent most of my time stuffed into lockers. Thank god for cell phones, or I'd still be in there. " And he added that " I went to school a lot worse than McKinley," referring to the Glee series's school that his character attended.

13 Demi Lovato: Outcast To Party Girl

Demi Lovato, a former Disney star known for jumping to fame thanks to the movie Camp Rock along with the boy band Jonas Brothers. Since then her career has only been on the rise, especially in her musical career.

Demi has always been known for being very open with her fans about her experiences. In fact, in her documentary Simply Complicated, the singer tells her experience with bullies: "When I was 12, I was bullied, I developed a social anxiety where I didn’t trust other girls my age." But then she started hanging out with one of the cool kids and everything changed for her. "One day, I asked her 'how do you have all these friends?'" Lovato asked her friend, and the girl asked her "Do you party?" The singer explained that "we experienced a lot of stuff together, drinking and using, and growing up."

Currently, the singer is in a better place in her life. She is focused on her music and has been sober for 6 years. She brings a positive message to her fans, reminding them of the importance of tolerance, self love, and embracing your beauty.

12 Jesse Tyler Ferguson Was Bullied Into Changing Schools

Jesse Tyler Ferguson is an American actor best known for his role as Mitchell Pritchett in the television series Modern Family and for his participation in tv shows and films such as "Ice Age: Collision Course", "Ugly Betty", "So You Think You Can Dance", and "Project Runway".

But even this beloved television actor went through dark years in his adolescence dealing with bullies. According to tvguide.com, the actor confessed that in his teen years he had to change schools several times because of the bullies: "Four years is a really long time when you're a kid and being bullied, but to knew that I had 50 or 60 years outside of high school where I was going to live the life I was going to live and not worry about bullies was huge for me."

Finally, Ferguson emphasizes that "It's just not OK to treat anyone like that." Also, for the kids who are on the fence about bullying, just leave the [other] kids alone. Let them live their lives. If you feel like you can't be friends with them, don't let the response be to kick them in the face."

11 Kate Winslet "Wasn't Pretty Enough"

Kate Winslet is one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood after in 1997 she played Rose in the movie Titanic with Leonardo Dicaprio. Kate has had the fortune and strength to maintain a stable career in the film industry, in movies like "Sense and Sensibility", "Finding Neverland", "The Holiday", "Revolutionary Road", and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind",among others

According to Dailymail UK, Kate, during her speech at WE Day UK celebrations at London's Wembley Arena, explained how the fact that other kids made fun of her during her teen years made her feel insecure about her body and weight. She added "You see, I had been bullied at school. They called me Blubber. Teased me for wanting to act. Locked me in the cupboard. Laughed at me. I was not the prettiest, I had big feet" and emphasized that what helped her achieve her dreams was to believe in herself. "You have to be indestructible to do what you love, and BELIEVE that you are worth it. And sometimes that's the hardest part. "

10 Justin Timberlake Was "Too Different"

Justin Timberlake began his rise to fame when he was just a boy, taking part in The Mickey Mouse Club, accompanied by other children who would later become great celebrities such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling. But his jump to fame came when he started singing with the NSYNC band between the years 1995-2002, stealing hearts everywhere. After the band split Justin became a solo singer and ventured into acting.

Believe it or not, Justin also struggled with bullies. During his speech at the iHeartRadio Awards 2015 upon receiving "The Innovator Award" Justin stated that "Growing up in school, no one ever called me anything close to an innovator, they called me different, they called me weird, they called me a couple of other words I can not say on TV. " He added "So thankfully my mother taught me that being different was a good thing, that being different meant you could actually make a difference, so tonight I want to thank my mom. "

9 Lady Gaga Had To Find Something To Offer

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, although we all know her by her artistic name Lady Gaga, who made her fame in 2008 with her debut album The Fame, establishing herself in the music industry with hits like "Poker Face", "Bad Romance", and "Million Reasons".

According to Access Online, the artist opened up during an interview for The View. Regarding being bullied, the singer said "I got really bullied. I had a nice group of friends, but getting picked on in school - it sticks with you for life and I do not think I realized how much it affected me until I started to get more and then there's lots of pressure and you have to be a role model," she said.

"I had to look inside myself and say, 'Well, what do I have to offer?' Because for so many years I felt like I did not have much to offer."

But in the end, Lady Gaga managed to navigate all the negativity and achieve her dreams of becoming a singer.

8 Barack Obama's Ears Were "Too Big"

Barack Obama is an American politician who, by winning the presidential election, achieved the unimaginable: being the first African-American president in the United States, having a presidential term between 2009 and 2017

According to The Washington Post Obama, during a speech at the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention, gave a few words about the importance of stopping bullying in schools. The former president of the United States declared at the time "As adults, we all remember what it was like to see kids picked on in the hallways or in the schoolyard" and also added that "I have not said with big ears and the name that I have, I was not immune, I did not emerge unscathed." But Obama remained focused on his goals, ignoring the haters becoming an example that with effort and dedication everything is possible.

7 Jennifer Lawrence Changed Schools Because Of Mean Girls

Jennifer Lawrence is an American actress known for her roles in films such as "X-Men: First Class," "The Hunger Games," and "Mother". But in addition, this young actress is known for her crazy personality and for expressing what she thinks out loud, which is why it is hard to think that she has been mocked in school.

According to Fox News, Jennifer did not have such a good time in her teenage years. In fact, she confessed that she had to change schools several times because of other children. "I changed schools a lot when I was in elementary school because some girls were mean." But she stressed that did not stop her from achieving her dreams.

6 Michael Phelps Had Big Ears Too

Michael Phelps is an American swimmer and most decorated athlete in the Olympic Games of all time with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also broke Mark Spitz's record (1972), of seven first places in any of the Olympic Games. According to More.com, Phelps' parents divorced when he was 9 years old, and swimming became an escape and something therapeutic for him.

During an interview for Yahoo Sports in 2012, the athlete confessed that other children used to make fun of him in his youth, especially for his ears. "It was very frustrating at the time." But when he returned to his hometown he had his best revenge. "They'll try to talk to me and I'm thinking, 'Yeah, why are talking to me now? You were picking on me then."

5 Miley Cyrus Couldn't Defend Herself

Miley Cyrus became an icon thanks to her role as Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel television series between 2006 and 2011. And during her post-Hannah Montana phase, Miley decided to dedicate herself to music.

In her book "Miley Cyrus: Miles To Go", the actress and singer confessed that her teen years were lonely and somewhat miserable. The star was mocked by some of her classmates when she was studying in Tennessee and she feared that the conflicts escalated from verbal to physical. "The girls took it beyond normal bullying, they were big, tough girls, I was scrawny and short, they were fully capable of doing me bodily harm."

4 Prince Harry: Royal Ginger

Prince Henry of Wales, better known as Prince Harry, is a member of the British royal family, being the youngest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is also the fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. However, Prince Harry has always been rebellious against certain rules of royalty. In fact, he is soon to marry Meghan Markle, an American actress, known for playing  Rachel Zane on the TV series Suits for 7 seasons.

But although the life of a Prince may sound synonymous with perfection, it seems that everything was not always easy for Harry. According to Dailymail UK, the prince used to be teased by other kids because of the color of his hair. In fact, The Sun newspaper reported that Harry's fellow soldiers nicknamed him "Ginger Bullet Magnet," and wore ginger-colored wigs for use in Iraq, joking that it would be harder for the insurgents to identify the prince.

3 Jessica Alba's Dad Had To Defend Her Every Day

Jessica Alba, like many stars in Hollywood, started her career from an early age, and according to her bio in IMdb.com her big break came when she was chosen for the sci-fi series Dark Angel on Fox. From then on, Alba has captivated the audience with her performances in movies like "Honey"," Sin City", "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World", and "Some Kind of Beautiful" among others.

According to mom.me, Alba stated during an interview with Dailymail how her middle school years were, and unfortunately, it was not so wonderful. "I was bullied so badly my dad used to have to walk me into school so I didn't get attacked," Jessica recalled "I'd eat my lunch in the nurse's office so I didn't have to sit with the other girls. Apart from my being mixed race, my parents didn't have money, so I never had the cute clothes or the cool backpack."

2 Chris Rock Thanks His Bullies

Chris Rock is a comedian, actor, producer and director of American origin who is best known for being a member of the cast of Saturday Night Live in the '90s as well as participating in films such as "Down to Earth" (2001),  "Head of State" (2003), the franchise Madagascar (2005-2012)," Grown Ups "(2010), and its sequel " Grown Ups 2 "(2013). He also wrote the comedy " Everybody Hates Chris " (2005-2009), which was based on his early years of life.

In 2007, he told to the host James Lipton of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio his opinion about bullying "the defining moment of my life ... it made me who I am." He even thanked the group of boys who regularly teased him and "kicked my a-, spit in my face, and kicked me down the stairs " because those bad experiences motivated him to seek success.

1 Christina Aguilera Is A Fighter

Christina Aguilera, like Justin Timberlake, began her career at an early age and belonged to The Mickey Mouse Club, accompanied by other celebrities. But according to her biography on Wikipedia her great jumped to fame came after recording the theme of the Disney movie Mulan in 1998, getting her a contract with RCA Records. In 1999 her single "Genie in a Bottle" was positioned as number one on the  US  Billboard Hot 100.

But according to Dailymail UK not everything was always wonderful for the singer. During her youth she was teased by some children and during an interview in 2012 she expressed her opinion about her album and about bullying: "I have definitely experienced forms of bullying, and that's why it's so important for me to write songs like "Beautiful" and   "Fighter" she said. "On this current record, Lotus is all about being an unbreakable flower that survives the test of time ".

References: Dailymail.co.uk,  Micheleborba.com, Businessinsider.com, Capitalfm.com, People.com, Telegraph.co.uk,  Elitedaily.com,  Ew.com, Nme.com, Accessonline.com,  Yahoo.com, mom.me, Welt.de, Blackdoctor.org