Benni Cinkle from the Rebecca Black "Friday" video is using her Internet fame to take on bullying, discrimination, and other tough issues.
"That Girl in Pink" Benni Cinkle was just 13 years old when Rebecca Black's "Friday" video gained Internet infamy - though you would never guess it from the way she's handled her fame. That's because Cinkle has used her influence to rally support for the causes she believes in.
Thanks to the success of Rebecca Black's "Friday" video, Cinkle gained a fan base of hundreds of thousands of followers spanning Facebook, Twitter and tumblr. Cinkle realized the influence she had over fellow teens who saw her as a role model, and used her social media platforms to teach kids about issues such as bullying.
A year earlier, Cinkle had visited a website called SixBillionSecrets.com where kids of all ages can anonymously post their stories of abuse, rape, shame, neglect, or bullying without judgment. "It broke my heart to read what those kids were posting," Cinkle recalled. "So I just started writing down what I was feeling."
Those thoughts became a song, which Cinkle showed to her mom a year later, after the Rebecca Black "Friday" video exploded on YouTube. "Initially, Benni's song was a ballad," Pati Cinkle noted. "But what she really wanted was an upbeat song that gave hope to kids who would hear it."
A few phone calls later, and Cinkle had booked studio time to record her first song, "Can You See Me Now."
After recording her song, the next step was for Cinkle to create a music video, which she did by weaving together six common themes found in stories on SixBillionSecrets.com. The video deals with child abuse, homophobia, teen pregnancy, bulimia, bullying and cutting. "My video sheds light on the experiences some kids and teens face every day. If this is really happening, we need to be talking about it," Cinkle stated. "I wanted to get the conversation started and show my support for teens who face these tough issues."
The final story of the music video is the closest to Cinkle's heart. It deals with bullying, a struggle Cinkle faced daily when dealing with the backlash of the Rebecca Black "Friday" video online. "When the screen flashes with hurtful words, those are all names I've actually been called," Cinkle said. "I had the support of my friends and family so I could deal with the hate. I just hope everyone who deals with bullying is as fortunate as I am and they understand that they're not alone."
Despite the video's weighty topics, Cinkle's goal for the video is to convey a sense of hope and encouragement. "I just want to show my support so kids who face these tough issues don't have to face them alone. Overcoming these obstacles will only make them stronger." Cinkle is proud to state that her goal for the video is "to touch just one other life. If my video helps someone else then I've done my job."
"That Girl in Pink" Benni Cinkle was just 13 years old when Rebecca Black's "Friday" video gained Internet infamy - though you would never guess it from the way she's handled her fame. That's because Cinkle has used her influence to rally support for the causes she believes in.
Thanks to the success of Rebecca Black's "Friday" video, Cinkle gained a fan base of hundreds of thousands of followers spanning Facebook, Twitter and tumblr. Cinkle realized the influence she had over fellow teens who saw her as a role model, and used her social media platforms to teach kids about issues such as bullying.
A year earlier, Cinkle had visited a website called SixBillionSecrets.com where kids of all ages can anonymously post their stories of abuse, rape, shame, neglect, or bullying without judgment. "It broke my heart to read what those kids were posting," Cinkle recalled. "So I just started writing down what I was feeling."
Those thoughts became a song, which Cinkle showed to her mom a year later, after the Rebecca Black "Friday" video exploded on YouTube. "Initially, Benni's song was a ballad," Pati Cinkle noted. "But what she really wanted was an upbeat song that gave hope to kids who would hear it."
A few phone calls later, and Cinkle had booked studio time to record her first song, "Can You See Me Now."
After recording her song, the next step was for Cinkle to create a music video, which she did by weaving together six common themes found in stories on SixBillionSecrets.com. The video deals with child abuse, homophobia, teen pregnancy, bulimia, bullying and cutting. "My video sheds light on the experiences some kids and teens face every day. If this is really happening, we need to be talking about it," Cinkle stated. "I wanted to get the conversation started and show my support for teens who face these tough issues."
The final story of the music video is the closest to Cinkle's heart. It deals with bullying, a struggle Cinkle faced daily when dealing with the backlash of the Rebecca Black "Friday" video online. "When the screen flashes with hurtful words, those are all names I've actually been called," Cinkle said. "I had the support of my friends and family so I could deal with the hate. I just hope everyone who deals with bullying is as fortunate as I am and they understand that they're not alone."
Despite the video's weighty topics, Cinkle's goal for the video is to convey a sense of hope and encouragement. "I just want to show my support so kids who face these tough issues don't have to face them alone. Overcoming these obstacles will only make them stronger." Cinkle is proud to state that her goal for the video is "to touch just one other life. If my video helps someone else then I've done my job."
About the Author:
More information on Benni Cinkle is available on her non-profit website That Girl in Pink and YouTube channel.
