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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 05: Paige Spiranac of the United States is overcome by emotion whilst talking about being a victim of Cyber Bullying during her press conference as a preview for the 2016 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club on December 5, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 05: Paige Spiranac of the United States is overcome by emotion whilst talking about being a victim of Cyber Bullying during her press conference as a preview for the 2016 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club on December 5, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Being an online sensation isn’t easy. Paige Spiranac is by far the most followed golfer on social media, with over 3.7 million followers on Instagram alone…ahead of even Tiger Woods, by a considerable margin. She knows the drawbacks of having a huge following and the effect it can have on a person.
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The ex-golfer has dealt with cyberbullying and shaming for a while now. But this wasn’t new to Paige. She was frequently picked on and bullied as a child, too.
Paige Spiranac was once a devoted gymnast
Spiranac is quite the sportswoman; not only does she know how to play many sports, but she excels at quite a few. When she was younger, the golf beauty was an avid gymnast. She had made it her life’s goal to become a professional athlete and would spend tons of time practicing.
But life wasn’t as simple as being a happy girl in the gym for Paige. She suffered from asthma and a scalp condition that caused her to lose hair. And this made the blonde beauty an easy target. “Kids bullied me for that. I got into gymnastics, which is highly competitive. The girls were vicious. They would spit in my drink,” she said in an interview with Maxim.

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MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Paige Spiranac attends MAXIM Hot 100 Experience at Hyde Beach at SLS South Beach on July 16, 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images)
The girls didn’t spare Spiranac on her birthday either. She recalled, “I brought in cake for my birthday and they all threw it out in front of me. I looked at my parents, like, ‘I don’t know.’” Despite the bullying, Paige constantly practiced, and it was quite clear that she was talented.
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How did Paige jump from being a gymnast to golf?
Paige’s vigorous gymnastics practice had paid off, and she was invited to join the prestigious Károlyi camp. But unfortunately, before she could join them, she suffered an injury and broke her kneecap. Not once, but twice. She was forced to give up on her dream at the age of 12.

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 09: Paige Spiranac of the United States plays her second shot at the 14th hole during the delayed second round of the 2016 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club on December 9, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Paige then tried playing tennis, but soon found that the game wasn’t for her. Soon after, her father took her to the driving range for the first time. Spiranac felt a spark almost immediately. “I fell in love with it instantly. My parents always said put everything you have into it, or otherwise get a job,” she said.
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Watch This Story – Paige Spiranac Reveals the Worst Date She’s Ever Been On
So, the golf beauty devoted all her time to getting better on the course and went on to enjoy a promising career as a teen. She has great talent, but her dedication and determination to see something through are even more impressive. That’s exactly why Spiranac was chosen as Maxim’s Sexiest Woman Alive.
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