Every person has their own unique struggles with their appearance and self-esteem. It could be a desire to improve their teeth or lose weight. We all have areas where we can make improvements. One person who truly inspires me in this regard is Lizzie Velásquez from Austin, Texas.

Lizzie had a very unusual genetic condition that prevented her from gaining weight as a child, which had an impact on her appearance. But she didn’t let that define her. Instead, she turned all the negative energy and bullying she faced into something positive. Her story is truly uplifting and worth sharing.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on our own lives when we were 16 years old. It’s a time of change, where we have to deal with hormones, emotions, and sometimes mental difficulties. Overall, I hope you had a fantastic time in your life, just like I did.

Now, imagine being called “The Ugliest Woman/Man in the World” at that age. On top of that, there’s a video of you with that caption, and thousands of people have watched it, leaving derogatory remarks in the comments. How would you feel? It’s hard to imagine, right?

Well, this was Lizzie Velásquez’s reality. She faced online and in-person bullying throughout her school years, and it almost broke her. But Lizzie had a different plan. She decided to turn all that negativity into something constructive. And that’s what makes her so admirable and deserving of our attention.

I urge you to share Lizzie’s story with your friends and family. Let’s spread the word about this incredible woman from Austin, Texas.

Lizzie was born on March 13, 1989, weighing barely 2 pounds, 11 ounces. From the beginning, it was clear that she was unique compared to other newborns. However, it wasn’t until she entered kindergarten at the age of five that she started to realize something wasn’t right.

“I was simply Lizzie to my family. But for a little five-year-old, it was a harsh reality check. The other kids didn’t want to sit with me because they were afraid and would point at me,” Lizzie recalls. “I couldn’t understand why it was happening to me when I hadn’t done anything wrong. And I was scared to tell anyone.”

Finally, she confided in her parents, who reassured her that there was nothing wrong with her. They told her she was talented, beautiful, and capable of anything.

That advice from her family stuck with Lizzie, and it’s the truth. No matter how you look, you can achieve anything you want. But it would require a strong mindset, and Lizzie had the support of her parents to help her through.

Now let’s dive deeper into Lizzie’s journey and how she overcame adversity to become a source of inspiration for many.

Lizzie was born with the rare diseases lipodystrophy and Marfan syndrome. These conditions affect her heart, eyes, and bones, and they also prevent her from gaining weight due to an issue with fat distribution in her body. These diseases are extremely rare, with only three known cases worldwide. Even experts are still puzzled by them.

Additionally, Lizzie is blind in one eye and ages more quickly than others without the condition.

But despite all these challenges, Lizzie maintained her optimism, showed courage, and participated in all the things she loved with her friends. She took pictures for the yearbook, worked as a staff writer for the school newspaper, and even gave cheerleading a try. Wearing the adorable uniforms made her feel like a superhero. She felt more like her authentic self around her classmates than she did around her family.

Things started to get better, and Lizzie gained enormous confidence. But then, her world came crashing down when she stumbled upon a video of herself while scrolling through YouTube for her homework.

In that video, she was referred to as “the ugliest lady in the world.” And to make matters worse, the video had millions of views and was filled with extremely hurtful comments.

Lizzie couldn’t help reading the comments, even though they were incredibly cruel. Some even suggested that she should commit suicide to make the world a better place. She hoped someone would come to her rescue, but unfortunately, none of the comments offered any help.

“It felt like someone was punching me through the computer screen,” Lizzie says. It was hard for her to comprehend what she was witnessing.

It’s mind-boggling to think about how people can hide behind their computers and torment a 16-year-old girl battling a serious illness. How do they sleep at night?

But Lizzie refused to let the hate consume her. She didn’t want to waste her time reacting to the comments. Instead, she wanted to prove them wrong by showing how she could contribute to society.

Lizzie’s strength and resilience didn’t go unnoticed. In 2003, she was invited to give a TED Talk in Austin, Texas, which became widely popular. In that talk, she not only shared how hurtful the mockery was but also presented a different perspective, just as she had done for herself.

Handling all that hate would have been difficult for anyone. But Lizzie isn’t like most people. She proved to everyone just how resilient she is. Despite needing a high-calorie diet to maintain her energy levels, she continues to inspire others through her YouTube channel, where she has over 850,000 subscribers.

Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, she gained popularity on social media, especially on TikTok. People started sharing videos praising her beauty instead of criticizing her. Once again, the haters fell short.

True beauty comes from the heart and soul. Lizzie, you have a beautiful face! Her life story is incredibly uplifting, and we believe everyone should read about her to realize that anything is possible.

If you find Lizzie as wonderful as I do, please share her story with your friends and family. Let’s celebrate her strength and resilience together!