Everyone faces personal challenges related to their appearance or self-esteem. Whether it’s wanting to lose weight or fix a perceived flaw like your teeth, there’s often something we wish we could change.
Whenever I need inspiration, I think about Lizzie Velásquez from Austin, Texas. Lizzie was born with a rare genetic condition that prevents her from gaining weight, which has significantly influenced her appearance.
Despite enduring relentless bullying, Lizzie refused to let the negativity define her. Instead, she transformed her pain into purpose, becoming a globally recognized motivational speaker who inspires millions with her resilience and courage.
Now, take a moment to reflect on your own life at 16 years old. For many, it’s a time filled with change—shifting emotions, hormonal ups and downs, and mental struggles. While it may have been a challenging phase, it also shaped who you are today.
Online Hate and Lizzie Velásquez’s Story
For many, being 16 is a mix of highs and lows. But imagine if, during that time, you were labeled as “The Ugliest Person in the World.” Worse yet, imagine a video of you titled the same way, racking up hundreds of thousands of views, with cruel comments flooding in, saying unimaginable things about your appearance.
How would you cope with that level of public ridicule? For Lizzie Velásquez, this wasn’t just a nightmare—it was her reality. Teased relentlessly throughout her school years, both in person and online, Lizzie faced bullying that could have easily crushed anyone.
But instead of letting it define her, Lizzie made a powerful choice: she decided to transform all the negativity into something meaningful and positive. Her resilience and strength are why she has become such an inspiration, and why her story deserves to be shared with the world.
Lizzie Velásquez’s Early Life
Lizzie Velásquez was born on March 13, 1989, in Austin, Texas. She entered the world prematurely, weighing only 2 pounds and 11 ounces. From the moment she was born, it was clear that Lizzie looked different from other babies.
As a toddler, Lizzie didn’t perceive herself as being any different—she was simply Lizzie. But when she started kindergarten at age five, reality hit hard.
“To my family, I was just Lizzie. But for a 5-year-old, it was a harsh wake-up call,” she shared in an interview with Today. “Other kids were scared of me, pointing, avoiding sitting near me. I couldn’t understand why—it wasn’t like I had done anything to them.”
Lizzie initially kept her pain to herself but eventually confided in her parents, who responded with unwavering love and support.
“They told me, ‘There is nothing wrong with you. You’re just smaller than the other kids. You are beautiful and smart and can accomplish anything,’” she recalled.
Those words became a foundation for Lizzie’s strength, reminding her that beauty doesn’t define one’s worth. With her parents’ support and her own determination, Lizzie began to develop the mental fortitude necessary to take on the challenges ahead.
Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, self-love, and the support of a loving family. Lizzie’s ability to turn her struggles into a source of inspiration for others has made her a beacon of hope for countless people around the world.
Lizzie Velásquez – Living with Rare Conditions
Let’s return to Lizzie Velásquez and her remarkable journey of turning adversity into inspiration.
What causes Lizzie’s unique appearance? She was born with two incredibly rare genetic conditions: Marfan syndrome and lipodystrophy. These disorders affect her heart, bones, and eyes, and they prevent her body from storing fat, making it impossible for her to gain weight. Her condition is so rare that only three known cases exist worldwide, leaving medical experts perplexed to this day.
Additionally, Lizzie’s condition accelerates the aging process, and she is blind in one eye.
Even as early as kindergarten, Lizzie faced cruel remarks from her peers. Children made hurtful comments about her appearance, with some going as far as labeling her face as “disgusting.” These painful experiences followed her throughout her childhood, making her resilience and strength even more extraordinary.
Lizzie Velásquez – Finding Her Strength Amid Cruelty
“At the time, I thought everyone looked like me. I didn’t realize I was different,” Lizzie shared with the Daily Mail.
By the time Lizzie started high school, things began to improve. She discovered her own strength and realized she had the power to shape her life. From that moment, she made a clear decision: she would remain positive, courageous, and pursue the activities she loved alongside her friends.
The YouTube Video That Shattered Her World
Lizzie took bold steps to live life fully. She became a staff writer for the school newspaper, captured photos for the yearbook, and even tried out for cheerleading. Wearing the cheerleading uniform made her feel invincible. “It was scary, but I knew it would be worth it,” Lizzie said. “In those moments, I felt like a superhero—completely myself, like the version of me my family knew.”
Her confidence was growing, and life was looking brighter. Then, everything came crashing down.
One evening, while working on homework and casually browsing YouTube, Lizzie stumbled upon a video about herself. It was titled “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” The video had garnered millions of views, and the comments were horrifying.
Lizzie couldn’t resist reading them, hoping someone might defend her. Instead, she found hateful messages, with some suggesting the world would be better off if she didn’t exist. Heartbreakingly, not a single comment stood up for her.
Despite this devastating experience, Lizzie would go on to defy the cruelty and emerge as a symbol of resilience and inspiration.
“Determined to Prove Them Wrong”
Lizzie described the experience as feeling like “someone was punching me through the computer screen.” The shock and pain of seeing the hateful video were almost unbearable.
It’s hard to fathom how thousands of people could sit behind their screens and target a 16-year-old girl battling a rare and severe illness. How do people who spread such cruelty find peace within themselves?
The level of hate directed at Lizzie could have easily broken her spirit. Instead, she chose to rise above it. Remarkably, Lizzie shared that if she could, she would send flowers and a thank-you card to the person who created that video because it ultimately changed her life for the better.
“I didn’t want to retaliate—it would’ve been a waste of time,” she explained. “I just wanted to prove them wrong. I realized I could use it for something good.”
Lizzie refused to let the haters dictate her story. Despite enduring the worst kind of abuse, she used the experience as motivation to fuel her future.
She went on to attend college and, by the age of 23, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Texas State University. Lizzie turned her pain into purpose, showing the world the power of resilience and determination.
Lizzie Velásquez – An Inspirational TED Talk
In 2013, Lizzie Velásquez took the stage at a TED Talk in Austin, sharing her story and reshaping how people perceive challenges and resilience. Her talk quickly went viral, resonating with audiences worldwide. Lizzie spoke candidly about the pain caused by relentless bullying but also emphasized the perspective shift that helped her transform her life.
“For so long, I believed my outer appearance defined me,” Lizzie revealed during the talk. She admitted to once wishing she could “scrub the syndrome” off her face. However, after encountering the hurtful YouTube video that called her “The World’s Ugliest Woman,” something clicked.
“Am I going to let the people who called me a monster define me?” she asked herself. “No, I’m going to let my goals, my successes, and my accomplishments define me instead.”
For most, such hate would have been unbearable, but Lizzie is not like most people. Her strength and determination have shown the world just how resilient she is. Despite the challenges posed by her rare condition, including the need to maintain a high-calorie diet to sustain her energy, Lizzie has risen above adversity.
Lizzie Velásquez Today
Now 35 years old, Lizzie is a thriving businesswoman and a sought-after motivational speaker. She travels the globe to share her life story and raise awareness about her condition, inspiring countless individuals to embrace self-acceptance and perseverance.
“This is my purpose. This is what I’m meant to do for the rest of my life,” Lizzie told the Daily Mail. “I like to think that I’m not just telling my story—I’m telling everyone’s story.”
Her success extends to her YouTube channel, which boasts over 850,000 followers. Lizzie uses the platform to deliver empowering messages and connect with her audience. By turning pain into purpose, she has proven her strength and surpassed the negativity of her detractors.
Reflecting on the words her parents always told her, Lizzie reminds others of their worth: “You are beautiful, smart, and capable of accomplishing anything.”
“They Loved Me Despite the Unknowns”
Although Lizzie Velásquez is a beacon of strength and inspiration, 2020 brought its share of challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic took a toll, but Lizzie also faced cruel treatment on social media, particularly on TikTok.
One incident stood out as especially hurtful: a mother used Lizzie’s photo to prank her child, pretending she would be their teacher for the upcoming school year. This appalling behavior became part of a troubling trend, where parents staged similar FaceTime pranks using Lizzie’s image.
The Importance of Respect
Understandably, Lizzie was deeply hurt. “What kind of parent does this?” she questioned. “What message does this send to children? That it’s okay to mock someone for how they look?” Lizzie emphasized how these actions perpetuate harmful behaviors in children.
“When kids are in school or out in public, it’s crucial to teach them the importance of respecting people who don’t look like them,” Lizzie said in a video posted to her social media.
She warned that such pranks can normalize bullying: “It might seem like a joke, but it teaches kids that if their mom or dad thinks it’s funny, then it must be okay to laugh too.” Lizzie added, “I feel a great responsibility to speak up for those who might not have a voice or don’t know how to use theirs.”
Having dealt with similar incidents before, Lizzie admitted she had a gut feeling her photo would be misused. “After experiencing this so often, I’ve learned to sense when it might happen,” she said.
A True Inspiration
In response to Lizzie’s callout, many children took to social media to post uplifting videos, sharing messages about how beautiful Lizzie is. Once again, the bullies lost, and Lizzie’s courage shone through.
Throughout her life, Lizzie has been celebrated for her resilience and bravery. She has authored a best-selling book about her journey and even received praise from former First Lady Michelle Obama. Lizzie continues to inspire millions, proving that compassion and strength can triumph over cruelty.
True beauty radiates from the heart and soul, and Lizzie embodies that completely. Her story is a powerful source of inspiration, reminding us all that no obstacle is insurmountable.
We believe her journey is something everyone should know about—it’s a testament to resilience, inner strength, and the limitless potential within us all.
If you find Lizzie as remarkable as we do, share her story with your friends and family to spread her incredible message of hope and perseverance!
