We expect Clare's story isn't unique. This has probably happened to hundreds of girls over the years. Clare has an advantage that those hundreds of girls didn't have, though. She lives in the internet age, and she knows how to use it.
She knew exactly what would happen if she could get her story online, and make her voice hear - and so she did it. Not long after she got home, she started putting the story together. She made sure to include the pictures of her dress.