Community Chat

[KingstonsMom]

A beauty queen has helped a bullied high school student get the last laugh on his peers.  

Michael Conrad, a junior at Taylorsville High School who has autism and ADHD, received a fake invitation to homecoming that left him upset and his mother 'sick to her stomach'.

The culprits, who are yet to be identified, egged his home and left a note saying: 'I'm sorry for the mess. But how about I make it up to you by taking you to Homecoming?' Fox News reported. 

The note was attributed to a friend of Michael's, but when he confronted her about it, she denied all knowledge and told him she already had a date. 

Michael's uncle said on Twitter the teenager had: 'tried to hide the hurt when this happened but it was obvious that he was upset inside'. 

Hearing about the cruel prank, debating teacher Jenn Palomino said she was heartbroken, and determined to help right the wrong.

She contacted Miss Greater Salt Lake, Dexonna Talbot, and asked if she might be able to help salvage her student's homecoming experience.

Talbot, who will compete for Miss Utah in the next few months, said she felt called to act the second she heard about the fake invitation.

'The second I heard about this, I knew I wanted to do something,' she said.

'I automatically broke down into tears, because just thinking about the fact that someone would go out of their way to make someone else feel bad is so heartbreaking to me.' 

Holding a sign covered in Starburst - Michael's favorite candy, Talbot was filmed entering his high school classroom last week to ask him to homecoming - for real this time.

Standing up, he can be heard responding with an enthusiastic: 'Sure!' 

As the pair chat, Michael's classmates can be heard applauding the unlikely match. 

On Saturday, Talbot shared photographs of the pair ahead of the big dance.

'Had the time of my life with the coolest, funniest, kindest and most amazing guy at homecoming tonight,' she wrote.

'Micheal you are one of a kind. I am so humbled by this experience. Bullying sucks and kindness ALWAYS wins.'

Speaking to friends on Facebook, Michael's mother Jennifer said she still doesn't know who played the cruel prank on her son, but the family have chosen to focus on the positives. 

'We don't know who did it, but to us it doesn't matter,' she said. 'Through this experience our sweet boy was able to have the time of his life.' 

'I just hope [the bullies] realize that you should [not] tear someone down to try and make yourself look cool.'

Video of her invitation to Michael in his class here:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6208267/High-school-boy-autism-lands-Miss-Utah-hopeful-home...

[Caligurll]

Now that is true beauty!

[Kachina624]

What a cute couple!

[beckyb1012]

His tie, her dress, their smiles so lovely.

[Ladylaughsalot]

So sad that someone could do this to him, but it’s so encouraging to see that better people came along and made a wonderful time for him.

[dex]

Very nice...a happy ending!To the person who thought their cruel prank was funny..watch out for  Karma...she’s a nasty one.

[stevieb]

As we theoretically, very theoretically it seems, live in a more enlightened and inclusive society, where children have supposedly been reared surrounded by sensitivity... I'll never understand that level of meanness... The saddest part is those who teased this kid probably thought it was the epitome of humor...

[jaxs mom]

Great story, and nice to read something positive here. 

[Scooby Doo]

We do have some really wonderful people around here, but there's always some exception.  Whoever pulled this prank is obviously the exception.  My kids went to this high school.  The principal is a good man and he will get to the root of this.

The boy knows that he has the hottest date at the prom!   The girl who was his date is studying to be a special education teacher, so that's one of the reasons she has such empathy.

[phoenixbrd]

Much gratitude to the teacher who reached out as well as the beautiful beauty queen who made this possible.  It was Michael's night to shine and he was quite the handsome partner.  I hope this action made the school community reflect on this despicable behavior.  May Michael's future be bright and full of kindness.