Gabby Douglas Reveals She Was Told to Get a Nose Job, Bullied

Two-time gold medalist Gabby Douglas may be living her dream, but she continues to reveal that her road to superstardom was not always an easy one. Most recently, Douglas revealed that a staffer at Excalibur Gymnastics, where she trained as a young athlete in Virginia Beach, Virginia, encouraged her to get a nose job.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the 16-year-old said the staff member suggested reconstructive surgery because of her nose’s flatness. She described the comments as very hurtful. 

Douglas also revealed she was often bullied by other gymnasts in a recent interview on Oprah’s Next Chapter. “I definitely felt isolated, I felt why am I deserving this? Is it because I’m black? Those thoughts would go through my mind,” she said. “I felt like I was bullied and isolated from the group, and they treated me not how they would treat the other teammates.”

Gabby’s mother, Natalie Hawkins, said she didn’t find out about these incidents until more recently. “I was flabbergasted,” she said. 

Douglas has also spoke openly about the negative hair comments that flooded social media sites during her Olympic win, her mother’s financial woes and her on-again, off-again relationship with her father.