‘World’s Ugliest Woman’ Is Now A Motivational Speaker (PHOTOS)

Insults hurt in more ways than imaginable.
When someone says words could never
hurt them they’re usually just hiding
behind the hurt because the reality is that
negative words can cut deeply, causing
depression, low self-esteem and the list
goes on. But one young woman named
Lizzie Velasquez, age 24, used negative
words as inspiration to rise above her
situation.
Lizzie was once labeled as the “World’s
Ugliest Woman” because of a rare
deformity that she shares with only two
other people in the world, a rare syndrome
known as Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome.
It’s a condition that causes one to age faster
and lose fat at an accelerated rate.
Presently, Lizzie only weighs 58 pounds
because she is unable to gain weight. The
syndrome has also caused her to go blind in
her right eye.
But worse than the physical suffering,
Lizzie also has had to face a lot of
negativity. In high school she was a
constant victim of bullying. Lizzie
discovered a YouTube video called “World’s
Ugliest Woman” when she was in high
school that featured her. The video racked
up more than a million views and
comments. Her classmates would hurl very
hurtful words at her and perhaps one of the
most hurtful that Lizzie recalled was when
someone told her ‘put a gun to her head
and kill herself’.
Lizzie didn’t allow the hurtful words to
harm her, in fact, she used it as motivation
to inspire others. Being called the “World’s
Ugliest Woman” she could have easily
hidden herself away from the world. But
Lizzie rose above the situation to become
an author and motivational speaker. Now,
she stands before crowds of people
inspiring and motivating them with her
words.
Lizzie explains, ‘I’ve had a really difficult
life, but that’s OK. I’m going to let my goals
and my success and my accomplishments
define me, not my outer appearance.’
One question that Lizzie always asks her
audiences is ‘What defines you?’
She didn’t allow her outward appearance or
the negative things people said to her to
define her. She went on to become a
positive influence in the world. But, Lizzie
will tell you that it wasn’t easy. People may
think she’s totally resilient, but Lizzie will
tell you it’s difficult because she’s human
and it hurts. But she has found strength to
rise above her situation and author three
books, one of which is “Be Beautiful, Be
You.