17-year-old Kristen Rambler's senior year was off to a great start. Supportive family, friends, and a new relationship. Kristen fell hard for her doting boyfriend.

A month in, he started to change. Controlling behavior became verbal abuse. Verbal abuse turned physical and the beatings only got worse. Like 80% of girls who are physically abused, Kristen stayed.

Kristen told us about the abuse, “Sometimes after a weekend with him, I would look so bad that I couldn’t go back to my university. I’d have to hide out in his room for days, sneaking down to the girl’s bathroom late at night. I’d stand there in front of the mirror looking at myself and cry. I couldn’t believe that the bruises and cuts on my face came from the man I loved.”

And now that it seems like Rihanna is walking down the same path, Kristen is speaking out again and hopes that all young victims of abuse, including Rihanna, will stand up and get out of their abusive relationships.

For more on Kristen's shocking story and brave decision, read on.