Lizzie Velasquez was born March 13, 1989, weighing just 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Doctors told her parents she would never walk, talk, or live independently. She has an extremely rare condition called Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome—only two other people in the world are known to have it. The syndrome prevents her from gaining weight (she weighs approximately 60 pounds), affects her vision (blind in one eye, limited vision in the other), weakens her immune system, and impacts her heart and bones.
Growing up, Lizzie faced relentless bullying. Kids stared, whispered, laughed. She was called ‘monster,’ ‘skeleton,’ and worse. Her parents instilled strength and self-worth, but the world was cruel.
Then came the day that almost destroyed her. At age 17, Lizzie was browsing YouTube when she stumbled upon a video titled ‘The World’s Ugliest Woman.’ It was her face. The video had over 4 million views. The comments were devastating: ‘Kill it with fire.’ ‘Why didn’t her parents kill her?’ ‘What a monster!’
For most people, this would be the end. Public humiliation on that scale—millions of strangers calling you ugly, monstrous, unwanted—would crush anyone. Lizzie sat in her room, shattered. She could have disappeared. She could have given up. Instead, she made a decision that would change millions of lives: she would define herself, not let others define her.
The Turning Point
The morning after finding the video, Lizzie woke up and asked herself: ‘Am I going to let people who called me a monster define me? Or am I going to let my goals, my accomplishments, and my success define me?’
She chose the latter. She started a YouTube channel to share her story. She gave a TEDx talk at TEDxAustinWomen in December 2013 titled ‘How Do YOU Define Yourself?’ The talk went viral—over 13 million views. Her message was simple but powerful: external appearance doesn’t define worth. Bullies don’t get to write your story. You do.
Lizzie became a motivational speaker, traveling the world to share her message with students, corporations, and organizations. She wrote four books, including ‘Be Beautiful, Be You’ and ‘Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velasquez Story.’ She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Communication Studies.
In 2014, she launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a documentary about her life. It raised over $200,000. The film, ‘A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story,’ premiered at SXSW 2015 and chronicles her journey from cyberbullying victim to anti-bullying activist lobbying for federal legislation.
Lizzie became a driving force behind anti-bullying legislation, advocating for laws protecting people from online harassment. Her activism contributed to the passage of the first federal anti-bullying bill in the United States.
The Strategy
Use Pain as Fuel:Lizzie didn’t ignore the video or pretend it didn’t hurt. She acknowledged the pain, then channeled it into purpose. The cruelty became her motivation to prove doubters wrong.
Control Your Narrative: Instead of letting others tell her story, Lizzie told it herself. Through YouTube, books, and speaking engagements, she took ownership of her identity.
Humor and Humanity:Lizzie’s talks aren’t preachy or victim-focused. She uses humor, vulnerability, and authenticity. She makes audiences laugh, cry, and feel hopeful. This emotional connection amplifies her impact.
Advocate for Systemic Change: Personal storytelling is powerful, but Lizzie went further. She lobbied for anti-bullying legislation, turning individual pain into collective protection for millions.
Build a Platform on Positivity: Her YouTube channel, social media, and public appearances focus on self-acceptance, inner beauty, and resilience. She doesn’t dwell on negativity—she inspires action.
The Results
Today, Lizzie Velasquez is:
• A globally recognized motivational speaker with 350,000+ YouTube subscribers
• Author of four bestselling books
• Subject of an award-winning documentary ‘A Brave Heart’
• TEDx speaker with 13+ million views
• Advocate whose work contributed to federal anti-bullying legislation
• Featured on The Today Show, Katie Couric, The View, Huffington Post, and international media
But statistics don’t capture the real impact. Lizzie receives thousands of messages from people who say her story saved their lives. Bullied teens who felt worthless found hope. Parents learned how to support their children. Educators created anti-bullying programs inspired by her message.
Most powerfully, she transformed the definition of beauty. In a world obsessed with appearance, Lizzie proved that beauty is courage, kindness, and resilience. She didn’t just survive—she thrived. And in thriving, she showed millions of others how to do the same.
