A mum has blasted "cruel" parents who laughed at her 11-year-old-daughter after she arrived at her school prom in a suit.
Mischa Parker, from Leeds, wore a James Bond-style dinner jacket and matching trousers to her end of year prom - but was devastated when she heard some parents laughing at her outfit and calling her 'suit girl'.
Mischa was so upset that she called her mum, Tamara Auty, 33, and asked if she would pick her up early.
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"I think it was an attack on her individuality, I work in mental health myself I just think it was really disgusting," said Tamara.
"When I was 11 I had no idea who I was, but Mischa has always known who she is and what she likes.
"I’d taken her shopping the day before and she was really excited trying it on. She was a bit nervous hoping nobody laughed at her.
"I just think that children should be allowed to express themselves - why should my daughter be made to feel bad about the way she likes to dress?
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"Why try and knock a child down for that?"
Last week, Tamara, Mischa and her brother Thomas, aged nine, had visited H&M to pick an outfit.
Support worker Tamara added: "She did end up going into the boys' section and got a dickie bow as they suited her a bit more.
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"She’d known if she was going to any function she’d be wearing a suit. She looked absolutely amazing and stylish.
"I’d straightened her hair for her, she’d put a bit of mascara on, nails painted black and normally she doesn’t bother with makeup or do anything with her hair.
"She was a little bit nervous but felt really good, she really liked the suit. She had been knocked down recently confidence-wise so it was quite a big thing for her to wear the suit as she hates dresses, she's not a girly girl."
"All her mates were saying you look amazing, you look gorgeous," Tamara continued.
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"I asked her if she wanted me to stay and she said no you can go."
But a couple of hours later, Tamara received an upsetting text from her daughter reading 'can you pick me up now?'.
"Mischa's normally not very cuddly, doesn’t really show emotion, doesn’t really get upset easily," said Tamara.
"She's just quite a strong character. When I got to prom I cuddled her and she just burst into tears and said 'I need to get out of here'.
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"Some of the adults who had stayed at prom called her 'suit girl' and sniggered. Every time she was walking past these parents she could hear them commenting and laughing."
"She said 'do you think I should change my fashion?' as she normally wears more boys' gendered clothing like hoodies and baggy trousers.
"I said no, you be who you are."
Tamara wants to raise awareness of the incident to stop it happening to other kids.
"I work with people in crisis, I see people who are affected by bullying and I just think it's disgusting, especially with adults who know better," she said.
"You expect it to be more the kids. If she had gone to prom in a dress she would've been unconformable, why should she not be happy?
"I think she’s brave for being who she is. Be who you are and celebrate who you are, don't be torn down for standing out."
We think Mischa looked so cool and stylish!
Featured Image Credit: SWNS