If someone like Susan Boyle can reach for the stars and have her dream happen, then by God, maybe I can too!  Just because I am fat doesn't mean that I can't do anything!!

My name is Kelcie Marissa Fonche'.  I live with my family in Pass Christian, Mississippi.  I am a Cajun girl who is proud of her heritage.  I also love to sing; have always sang ever since I can remember.

Yet when people see me, they do everything they possibly can to make me feel bad.  I am 11 years old, but I weigh over 300 pounds.  Have always been heavy; I take after my maman's side of the family.  They're all big, and they're doing okay!  Yet people can't seem to accept the fact that I will never be skinny, uniless I starve myself first!

I have been on more diets than one can shake a stick at.  I try to eat healthy, but once in a while, you just gotta have that extra piece of cake or pie, or suck on some crawfish heads to get anything worth eatin'!  Salads by themselves just doesn't do it; I'm a human being, not a rabbit!!

I have sang at several local festivals ever since I was six years old; my maman and my daddy believe in me.  They say I have the talent; I should go follow my dream of making it in country or Cajun music!  I enjoy singing in front of people; always have, always will.  Lately, though, people seem to have this hangup about my weight; they say things like "You'll never make it to the Grand Ole Opry!", "You'd do better if you lost weight!", "You're good, but your too heavy!", stuff like that.  It's enough to make me want to give up on my dream altogether.  I mean, why even try if people are only going to bring you down??

NOT everyone can be skinny or pretty! I'm not bad looking, just fat.  I am sorry; I can't help it.  It's a part of me; it is in my genes.  God made me the way I am for a reason, and if people can't accept it, then they need to get a life and leave me alone to follow my dreams as I see fit!

Then people wonder why I am always so down on myself.  You hear people complaining about how YOU look, and see what it does to YOU!

*To be continued.*