Who says reporters can't be young?

I'm fed up.

Fed up with the look and stares people give me.

So, what is the deal here?

If I'm not a balding man with white hair and a receding hairline, or not subjecting my arms to the punishing weight of heavy, professional camera equipment, I'm a faux?

Come on, I'm none of the above.

I am a bona fide reporter.

So, the next time, PLEASE do not stop me at the door entrance just to double-check or confirm my status. You make me feel like an adult of legal age getting checked at the entrance to a bar or to an R21 movie.

I DO NOT circumvent legal rules to get to where I am. So, I would appreciate if you stop making me feel like a conniving bitch, trying to bypass certain requirements just to gate-crash an event.

I had the last straw recently, when a fan came up to me during an event. And, to put it simply, she thought that I had 'bluffed' my way through.

Trying my best to sound polite and not the least bit offended, I finally asked her, 'Why would you think I did that?'

She shrugged. 'I only thought so because you look rather young to me.'

And, if you think I feel flattered that someone thinks I look young, I'm not in the least bit. Rather, I felt that statement offensive, and dripping with disparaging innuendos.

I might consider wearing a wig the next time round.