Growing up in the social media world, it's tough. Your face changes, you get older, your face fills out, and you fall into liking makeup and different stuff like that. And for people saying that, for the most part - it would kind of hurt my feelings when you haven't done anything. You just kind of have to keep being yourself and move forward with what you love.
McKayla MaroneyWith gymnastics, I know I was making some people in that world mad because they thought that I wasn't focused on gymnastics. They were like, 'Ugh, she won't get off social media, she's always tweeting.' They wanted me to be America's sweetheart. And I think I've never fit into that cookie cutter person.
McKayla MaroneyEvery single day, I get asked by people to do the face, so Im bringing it along with me now for the rest of my life.
McKayla MaroneyEven my bio on Instagram is like, 'That girl that fell at the Olympics.' Just as a joke. Because that's how people come up to me and that's what they say. That's how they remember me.
McKayla MaroneyI was a gymnast my whole life. I mean, I'd go to Starbucks and people would be like, 'Are you going to the next Olympics?' And when I'd say no, they'd literally look sad. So it was very hard for me to get excited about anything else. I thought that I had to do gymnastics forever.
McKayla MaroneyIt's a very vulnerable position to be in. I was so young and I was not focused on what I looked like. I was focused on the gold medal. At the end of the day, I have changed. I can't blame anybody for saying, 'Oh, she changed!' You know, because I have. And that's OK. It's good to keep evolving and growing. I think most people should be accepting with stuff like that, but you know, you can't force anybody into feeling a certain way. So for anybody who's judging it and not liking it, that's fine. Unfollow me. I don't really care.
McKayla Maroney