Six celebrities who turned childhood setbacks into success

We all know being a kid can be tough, so it’s important to emphasise to children that the problems they are facing now won’t last forever, and can actually be used to their advantage if they adopt a positive attitude. If you need some inspiration, then take a look at this list of seven celebrities who turned childhood setbacks into success.

The problem: Name calling
The inspiration: Cameron Diaz
Her slender figure and winning smile have made her an international movie star, but did you know Cameron Diaz was teased as a child because of those very same features? Because of how skinny and tall she was, Cameron was nicknamed ‘Skeletor’ by other children when she was younger, but now the joke is on them. Since then she has gone on to appear in over 30 films and graced the covers of magazines the world over as a result of learning to embrace her body shape.

The problem: Rejection
The inspiration: Michael Jordan
Now standing at a towering 6’6’’ tall, you might be surprised to hear that former NBA star Michael Jordan was once told that he was too short to play for his school basketball team. He didn’t let this hold him back, and after some rigorous training and determination he fought his way into the team, and eventually went on to play in the NBA. Michael Jordan won countless titles in his career, and is now widely regarded as one of the best basketball players the game has ever seen.

The problem: Family problems
The inspiration: Kelly Rowland
When she was only seven years old, Kelly Rowland and her mother were forced to flee their home in Atlanta to escape her alcoholic and abusive father. Kelly’s mother Doris had to start working multiple jobs to support her daughter, which meant she was rarely at home. Even at such a young age Kelly appreciated what her mother was doing for her, and has since said that because of Doris’ strength and sacrifice she was inspired to work harder and follow her dreams. This inspiration led to success as a member of girl group Destiny’s Child, as well as a solo career – all thanks to Kelly’s determination to repay her mother’s continued belief and sacrifice.

The problem: Shyness
The inspiration: Robert Pattinson
The Twilight films have been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world, so who would have guessed that male lead Robert Pattinson was actually too nervous to appear on stage when he was younger? Because of his confidence issues he much preferred to stay behind the scenes than be in the spotlight. He eventually plucked up the courage to take on some small acting roles and it paid off big time, as it led to him being spotted by a professional agent who landed him the opportunity of a life time in the form of the Twilight series.

The problem: Bullying
The inspiration: Lady Gaga
Bullying is a huge problem that many children will face at some point in their life, and Stefani Germanotta is no exception. Kids made fun of her because of her eccentric nature, and this initially made her try to tone down the unconventional aspects of her personality. However, she soon realised she didn’t want to change herself to please others, and decided to embrace her quirky tendencies. Now under the stage name ‘Lady Gaga’, she has achieved worldwide fame because of how much she stands out from everyone else, and it’s safe to say her millions of loyal fans now comfortably outnumber those bullies.

The problem: Aggression
The inspiration: Muhammad Ali
When Muhammad Ali was 12 years old he took a trip to the local cinema with his friend, only to find that his bike had been stolen when he was about to set off home. Furious, he stormed up to the nearest policeman to report the crime, claiming that he was going to beat up the thief. Luckily for him, the officer also worked at the local boxing gym, and he suggested that Ali should come down to channel that aggression into something more productive. The rest is history – Ali grew up to win an Olympic gold medal and become heavyweight champion of the world, all because he learned to control his aggression in a positive way.

At the heart of Team Mum is the video series Raising an Olympian, sponsored by Proctor and Gamble, profiling athletes from across the world, their dedicated efforts to make it to Olympic Games, and the mothers who had tremendous impacts on their lives. Watch the videos on Yahoo! Lifestyle Team Mum.