Nhoya Ruthlyn Turns Childhood Bullying Into Strength and Inspiration

Digital marketer, creative director and content creator Nhoya Ruthlyn has opened up about her experience with bullying over her appearance and deep voice, saying the criticism initially affected her but has now become a source of strength.

Speaking on Highway 10.19 on ZED FM, Ruthlyn said she had been bullied since childhood over her voice, lips and physical appearance.

She explained that when she started creating content, comments about her deep voice sometimes made her feel bad, although she eventually learned not to allow negative opinions to define her.

“I have been bullied all my life since childhood. I’ve been bullied for my voice, the way I look, my lips,” she said.

Ruthlyn said she never considered undergoing plastic surgery but admitted that some of the comments were painful, particularly because they reminded her of years of criticism.

She said she now lives by a personal mantra that helps her maintain confidence and protect her mental wellbeing.

“My mantra is, it is my world, and I live in it. Your voices don’t matter to me,” she said.

The content creator also revealed that one of the most painful comments she received online questioned whether she was a man or a woman.

Rather than responding to the individual, Ruthlyn said she blocked the person and has adopted a similar approach towards other negative comments.

She explained that protecting her peace and mental health was more important to her than retaining followers.

“For my sanity, I will do anything. I don’t care about the followers,” she said.

Despite the negativity, Ruthlyn said she has also received messages from followers whose lives have been positively influenced by her content.

She recalled a message from a woman who had experienced depression and struggled with having a deep voice similar to hers. According to Ruthlyn, seeing her confidently embrace her voice and personality inspired the woman to become a content creator herself.

“She said I inspired her because of my voice,” Ruthlyn said.

The revelation, she added, made her realise that something she had once been criticised for could become a source of encouragement for someone else.

“I was so happy to inspire somebody. I was like, damn, so that’s my voice. Somebody has found comfort in my voice,” she said.

Ruthlyn also reflected on her previous experience working in customer service at Vodafone Ghana, saying the job taught her patience, savings and how to handle difficult people.

She said those lessons have helped her deal with criticism and negativity encountered in her work as a content creator.

The experience, she noted, taught her valuable skills in dealing with people and managing difficult situations without losing her composure.