A video titled “The Ugliest Woman in the World” went viral a few years ago.
Lizzie Velasquez, the woman in the video, is now a social media star, author, and motivational speaker.
The primary symptom of Lizzie Velasquez’s unusual condition, Marfanoid-progeroid-lypodystrophy syndrome, is her inability to put on weight. She endured bullying as a result throughout her childhood before eventually turning things around and becoming an anti-bullying campaigner and motivational speaker.
Lizzie was born on March 13, 1989, to devoted parents who were devastated to hear of their daughter’s illness. Despite their grief, they never wavered in their support and taught her to love herself unconditionally and that beauty is not determined by appearances.
Lizzie was raised with these ideals, but she was devastated when she went viral on the internet for being “ugly.” What is genuinely admirable about her, though, is that she didn’t dwell on her misery for too long. She took up the cause of eliminating bullying and promoting body positivity.
In an effort to raise awareness of her disability and create a more welcoming and better world, she began giving presentations and starting her YouTube channel to discuss these topics.
One of Lizzie’s greatest accomplishments was her wildly successful TedxAustinWomen Talk, “How do YOU define yourself,” which received 54 million views on YouTube.
Lizzie talks about her innermost feelings, the heartache her first “viral” video caused, and her struggle to simply accept herself and teach kindness to everyone.
She feels that since there is no one concept of beauty, it is our responsibility as a family to defy societal norms. In her presentations, she also makes the argument that society should put all of its efforts toward elevating one another rather than demeaning one another.
The first of Miss Velasquez’s three novels, Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, was co-written with her mother, Rita Velasquez. It is an autobiography that includes all of Rita’s correspondence with her daughter.
Be Beautiful, Be You (2012) and Choosing Happiness (2014) are two of her other works that were written with teenagers in mind. While the latter is a chronicle of her personal hardships in her quest for happiness, the former discusses how we are all beautiful in our eccentricities and hearts.
Lizzie Velasquez is a symbol of inclusion, bravery, and faith. She truly exemplifies body positivity.
We all have a responsibility to be better and nicer people, to accept others for who they are, and to see that beauty can take many different forms since bullying is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone.
