Annie Bonelli is facing off against her skeptics.
While several users on the video platform have cast doubt over whether the long mark the TikToker has on her cheek is really a scar—with some going as far as to post their own videos about it—she is laughing off her critics.
Since 2021, several users have cast doubt about the long mark she has on her cheek, with some even sharing their own videos claiming it isn't a real scar, noting that its appearance has changed over time. The 18-year-old, who many on the app refer to as "Scar Girl," has laughed off the skepticism, but has yet to reveal her original injury.
"It's just a very personal subject," she told NBC News in an article published Jan. 26. "Looking in the mirror, sometimes it can be hard because I know exactly where it's from. But at the same time, I feel like in a way it's empowering. It's like, you know, I got through that."
On Jan. 11, the influencer wrote on TikTok that in March of 2020, she "was injured and realized that this would be a permanent mark on my face forever." Annie told NBC News that in late 2021, she applied a topical treatment to try to fade the scar, but that caused a chemical burn, which created a new wound on the scar. She added that in August 2022, she underwent treatment with a dermatologist.
"Scars can come in all different colors, all different shapes and sizes, and they can change throughout healing, especially when further injury is done to them," Annie explained. "The issue is people don't understand there was like two separate injuries, which is really more why people are stuck on it."
She continued, "I'm continuing to live my life, especially in spite of the hate. There's people that are always going to say something, and I shouldn't let that faze me."
@wtmab #duet with @bffspod ? original sound - BFFs Pod
On the BFFs podcast Jan. 26, when asked by co-host Dave Portnoy, Annie also declined to reveal the cause of her initial scar, other than to clarify it was not caused by a dog. She also reflected on the attention she's received over her facial mark.
"I never wanted to make my account about my scar," Annie said. "It was just the moment everyone was going crazy recently, so I figured I'd bring it up but I can understand why people would bring it up."