While many people found the Paris Olympics to be fantastic, Junell Bromfield did not. Paris challenged her emotions and resiliency in addition to providing a backdrop for sprints. Although Junelle performed admirably on the track, her real test was not successful. Unfortunately, the criticism she received went beyond her skill on the track. Some of the hate speech on the internet even crosses private lines. Since she was eight years old, Junelle has represented Jamaica. It was too much to handle the unexpected outpouring of criticism from those who had supported her.
But that’s not all. Junelle was up against more than just Olympic pressure. In addition, she was fending off the extra attention that comes with being Noah Lyles’ girlfriend. Since taking home the gold in the 100-meter Olympic Games, Noah Lyles has not been out of the limelight. The quickest man continued with his observations about the dynamics of the Jamaican training camp. Even though the comment looks innocuous at first, it was sufficient to start a debate. Before long, social media transformed into a battleground, with Junelle at its centre. She discovered that she was the object of racist taunts, criticism, and even denigration. But don’t imagine that this queen will give up easily.
A hearty “Yes Queen” clap for Junelle!
The struggle of Junelle Bromfield has not been simple. But she faced it head-on, fighting it with grace, fit for a queen. She claimed, “I’m a liar since no Jamaican was coming for my features. I’ve been getting cyberbullied for weeks.” “You have dry hair, an oversized jaw, a high forehead, and I was raised to believe that being black does not make one beautiful. The finest complement you receive after putting all those insults behind you and walking with confidence is that you look gorgeous for a black girl.The message served as a helpful reminder that beauty is not limited by hue, form, or size.
Noah quickly backed her up writing, “Baby, you are and will always be an inspiration to all little girls feeling this exact way.” Guess what happened next? Despite all the vitriol and noise, the narrative started to shift. Noah and Junelle have gotten the fandom going gaga and stan their relationship too with pictures from their vacation together. And the comments on the post had done a 180! Comments like “MY BOY NOAH IS WINNING WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL CHOCOLATE QUEEN” and “Yes, queen!” started flooding her posts. The tides are surely changing. While many saw her as the epitome of controversy, the world has also started to take account the strength it takes to rise above public scrutiny.
Lyles as a controversial man himself understands it better than anyone. He went on to write, “I can’t wait for the day that you tell your story in full because every girl that has felt what you are going through will know how amazing they can be.” Hear Hear to that! Meanwhile Junelle understands the larger implication that hate comments on public platforms can have. She went on to write, “I could go off ranting but I’m just here to tell all the girls/women on my profile that you’re beautiful no matter your shade , shape or size and for the little black girls don’t wait on anybody to tell you that your beautiful to believe it.”
The Colossal Pillar of Support: A Power Couple Built on Resilience
Junnele Bromfield has a reliance that not many can boast about. Even though Junelle did not win any medals at Paris Olympics, she is a two-time Olympic medalist. Junelle won the Gold in 4×400 m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also holds a Silver from World championships, that she won with her relay squad. Medals on track aside, the core of Junelle’s resilience is her relationship with Noah Lyles.
When Lyles wrote, “I just want to say how very proud I am of my GF and offer her the flowers she deserves today 💐,” on Instagram, it was clear that he was supporting her. She has endured so much in her life that I could never fathom overcoming. His message was more than just a compliment to Junelle; it was a proclamation that they would be facing every challenge head-on and united. Beyond that, she has won multiple medals at international championships, is a double Olympian, and has survived… However, he continued, “The most amazing thing I’ve witnessed lately is how she’s handled the outright hostility and contempt that she’s faced from her own nation.”
The narrative of Junelle Bromfield is one of overcoming hatred, discovering love, and persevering through it all. Junelle’s narrative is only getting started, but she has Noah Lyles’ unflinching support and an army of “Yes Queens” that is growing. Even though the two are now on vacation, it’s safe to bet that the world will witness some amazing things when they return.
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