Rachel Stuhlmann was dubbed the “sexiest tennis influencer in the world,” but she surprisingly admitted to being bullied for her looks.

After transforming from an “ugly duckling,” she shocked social media with a few stunning photos she shared.

Rachel Stuhlmann is modeling her career after that of Paige Spiranac, the “sexiest golf influencer in the world.” According to the Daily Mail, Rachel, a former University of Missouri tennis player, abandoned her dream of becoming a pro and is pursuing a slightly more glamorous career path.

“Tennis and golf are very similar sports,” Rachel told PopCulture via email. “I respect what Paige has done for the sport of golf so much! We have similar stories, and I aspire to continue to push the sport of tennis forward while being unapologetically me.” The brunette influencer’s newfound popularity, however, has come at a cost.

“I was bullied by some people I worked with earlier in my career because of my appearance and style,” Rachel said. “In a weird way, I would also thank them. Even though it really sucked being bullied, and I would cry all the time, their meanness motivated me to commit fully to being unapologetically myself.”

“One day I woke up and said, ‘Screw this. I’m going to embrace myself, be my true self, love myself…and people can take it or leave it,’” she explained. “Because at least, when I’m older, I won’t look back on my life and wish I had been myself and ask myself ‘What if…?’”

Rachel Stuhlmann has also been the subject of speculations about her “transformation,” which suggests she may have undergone plastic surgery. According to The Sun, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich believes Rachel has had one or two breast augmentations, as well as a Brazilian Butt Lift, rhinoplasty, and lip filler.

“The cost is probably aggregate somewhere around $150,000,” he said. “Maybe except for the size of the breast augmentations, all the work is done quite well. What is interesting is that Rachel really does look like a completely different person. Even when you look back to the images in 2017, which is only six years ago, it is still a pretty significant transformation.”

“It appears that Rachel has now become the world’s number one influencer in tennis instead of a professional player,” Dr. Westreich said. “She has had quite a bit of cosmetic work done. Some of the look change is the spray tan, the styling, the eyelashes, and the hair and all that. It is a pretty remarkable transformation. It is very hard to tell if Rachel has had more than one breast augmentation. In 2013, she did not have this size, so I would say she might have had a second breast augmentation. Rachel’s body shape has changed significantly as well.”

Rachel’s answer, rather than making any statements about the reports of possible plastic surgery, was to upload new photos on Instagram. Despite the criticism, Rachel says she has lots of support. “I have so much support from the tennis community, and that means a lot to me,” Rachel declared. “Many of my closest friends are current and former tour players and people working within the industry. They are all so supportive and encouraging, and I’m so grateful for them.”

However, Rachel Stuhlmann believes that some sports brands with which she sought a professional relationship are not supportive of her look. “I have found that some brands in the industry are not so supportive, saying that my appearance is too ‘risky’ or ‘edgy’ to represent their brand,” she said. “It’s disappointing, but I appreciate those who understand I’m trying to grow the game too.”

As a female sports influencer, comparisons to golfing queen Paige Spiranac are almost impossible to avoid. Although Rachel repeated her appreciation for Paige, the Missouri native said she is focused on doing her own thing. “Aside from the pros on tour, I’m the first real tennis influencer in the industry,” she declared. “And there really isn’t a playbook for me to follow.”