Alliyah is an incredibly brave young woman who was sexually abused as a child by her now ex-teacher Kellie Whiteside. Today, she’s courageously retaking her life after a lifetime of abuse and silence. Now 22, Alliyah has begun to reconnect with her father after years of distance, a move that signifies a new chapter in her life. After months of despair and time seeming to stop, Alliyah is hopeful for moving forward. She looks forward to her full court trial against Whiteside, set for 2024.
Alliyah’s path to musical success started when she first encountered Whiteside at Logan Village State School when she was just 12 years old. She soon became trapped, as their relationship deepened, in the snare of manipulation and duplicity. For years, she’d been programmed to reject any more serious claim on Whiteside’s heart, claiming they were just friends. Deep in the recesses of her heart, she knew. When crime increased in her first year of high school, the relationship turned troubling. Whiteside then started sending sexually explicit images to Alliyah.
Rebuilding Connections
For Alliyah, recent fruitful reconnection with her father marks a major emotional milestone. After years of separation, she’s hopeful that she may finally be able to reconnect in a deeper way with her daughter. “Over the last 18 months, I’ve been rebuilding all the bridges that I was manipulated into burning,” Alliyah shared.
This restored connection couldn’t be more timely as Alliyah gets ready to face the music with her past. She specifically has pursued public records requests with the education department related to Kellie Whiteside. For her, the aim is to connect the dots on what has happened to her and understand just how thoroughly she was manipulated. The emotional toll has been just as severe. Lately, Alliyah has been stuck in bed as the effect of trauma reemerging makes her physically ill.
“To see this person in real life, to look at her and confront her about what she’s put me through and what she’s put my family through… I’m scared about my reaction,” – Alliyah.
As she peers through this complicated emotional fog, Alliyah learns that healing ain’t a straight line. She is honest about the struggles of facing her past and her childhood while trying to be better and do better.
The Legal Battle Ahead
Her legal proceedings are currently scheduled in Kellie Whiteside’s home town of Beenleigh, at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court in early 2024. This hearing was an important step in Alliyah’s pursuit of justice. Whiteside is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for her crimes against Alliyah. Our upcoming hearing will address the larger impact of her illegal actions.
Alliyah’s story is representative of a disturbing pattern across our nation’s schools in which sexually predatory behavior is overlooked. Reflecting on her experience, Alliyah stated, “I was just a perfect victim for a predator like Kellie. She is a selfish, manipulative and terrifying representation of this small group of predatory educators in the schooling system.”
“I’m doing this for the sake of 12-year-old Alliyah, and 13- and 14- and 15- and 16- and 17- and 18- and 19- and 20- and 21-year-old Alliyah,” – Alliyah.
These sentiments point to a deep need to bring these cases to light. Taking that journey gives you personal closure and has the potential to help others who might still be suffering in silence.
Coping with Trauma
It’s been a long road to recovery for Alliyah. She’s never said it any better than calling the process “more traumatic than the trauma itself.” At 22 years old, she tells me it seems like she’s lived a lifetime of adversity.
“The healing is so much f***ing harder than being traumatised,” she expressed candidly. Her experiences have only deepened her commitment. She’s been working hard to shed the chains of her former life.
Alliyah has since received a wealth of support on her healing journey. Britt’s friends like Em have remained solidly on her side during these contentious years. While the emotional scars still linger, with every move forward, Alliyah is regaining control over her story and taking charge of her future.
“I know exactly what has happened… we got through it all because we were such a strong team,” – Kellie.
For as Alliyah continues to build a beautiful life, Alliyah is an icon of thriving even when the world is trying to end you. Her story reaffirms the truth that healing can happen. Sometimes the only remedy available is speaking out against the abuse. This not only brings a greater chance for justice but also for closure.
