Lizzie Velásquez

Lizzie Velásquez
Born Elizabeth Ann Velásquez
March 13, 1989
Austin, Texas, US
Nationality American
Other names Lizzie Velásquez
Alma mater Texas State University
Occupation Motivational speaker
Known for Public speaking, anti-bullying activism, public appearances, and book authorship
Religion Roman Catholic
Parent(s) Rita Velásquez
Guadalupe Velásquez

Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" Velásquez (/ˈlɪzi vəˈlæskɛz/; born March 13, 1989) is an American motivational speaker and author. She suffers from a rare congenital disease which, among other symptoms, impedes her from accumulating body fat. This condition resulted in bullying during her childhood and early youth and ultimately inspired her to take up motivational speaking.

Early life and background

The eldest of three children born to Rita and Guadalupe Velásquez,[1] Lizzie was born in Austin, Texas, on March 13, 1989.[2] Born four weeks prematurely, her birth weight was only 1,219 grams (2 pounds eleven ounces).[3][4] Her age was reported as 23 in September 2012, a time when she was nearing graduation from Texas State University[3] majoring in communication studies.[5] She is a Roman Catholic, and she has spoken out in terms of her belief in God who has "blessed me with the greatest blessing of my life, which is my syndrome".[6]

Condition

Velásquez has a condition that is so rare that only two other people are known to have it.[7] She has zero percent body fat and has never weighed more than 29 kg (64 pounds).[8] Although Velásquez does not have anorexia nervosa, she is unable to gain weight[9] and is required to eat many small meals and snacks throughout the day.[10] Her daily energy intake of about 5,000 calories (21,000 kJ)[9] compares with the US average of 3,770 calories (15,800 kJ).[11] She is blind in her right eye, which began to cloud over when she was four years of age,[12] and has limited vision in the other.[7] She has a weak immune system.[13] Her condition is similar to many other conditions, especially progeria. However, her condition is not terminal. Involved medical researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have expressed the opinion that it may be a form of neonatal progeroid syndrome, which at least has spared her healthy bones, organs, and teeth.[14]

Appearance and message

She has some progeroid physical characteristics, such as a pointed nose and already aging skin, but she has additional problems beyond that diagnostic classification. Ever since she was dubbed the "world's ugliest woman" by cyberbullies in a video posted on YouTube, Lizzie Velásquez has spoken out against bullying.[15][16][4][12][17]

Publications

Her first published work was co-authored (with her mother Rita) and is a self-published autobiography released in 2010 in English and Spanish. It is called Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velásquez Story and has never-before-seen journal entries Lizzie's mother wrote to Lizzie as a child.

Next Lizzie wrote two inspirational books for teenagers, which share personal stories from her life and offer helpful advice. Be Beautiful, Be You (2012) shares Lizzie's journey to discover what truly makes us beautiful, and teaches readers to recognize their unique gifts and blessings.[18] That book is also available in Spanish as Sé bella, sé tú misma (2013).[19] Choosing Happiness (2014) talks about some of the obstacles Lizzie has faced in her life, and how she's learned the importance of choosing to be happy when it's all too easy to give up.[20] Both books were published by a Redemptorist Catholic publishing house, Liguori Publications.

A documentary film entitled A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, premiered at SXSW on March 14, 2015.[17]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ ‘Ugliest woman in the world’ teaches about true beauty (September 19, 2012 by Paloma Corredor; published on voxxi.com)
  2. ↑ Texas Birth Record search for Elizabeth Velasquez
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Texas Woman Can't Gain Weight, Bullied Over Looks ABC News, September 14, 2012
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 'People should stop staring and start learning': World's ‘ugliest woman’ gives courageous interview by Amy Oliver, Daily Mail online, September 13, 2012
  5. ↑ Q & A: Lizzie Velasquez
  6. ↑ Young Catholic woman with rare syndrome speaks on true beauty Catholic News Agency of Austin, Texas; May 30, 2012
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Velasquez, Lizzie. "About Lizzie".
  8. ↑ How Do YOU Define Yourself Lizzie Velasquez at TEDxAustinWomen
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Meet woman who can’t gain weight: At 21, she’s 60 pounds Today Health at today.com, July 6, 2010
  10. ↑ Young Catholic woman with rare syndrome speaks on true beauty Catholic News Agency, May 30, 2012
  11. ↑ Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations 2005–07 Food Security Statistics
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lessons from the 'World's Ugliest Woman': 'Stop Staring and Start Learning' by Lylah M. Alphonse of Yahoo! Shine, September 13, 2012
  13. ↑ Hartenstein, Meena. "Lizzie Velasquez, 21-year-old with undiagnosed genetic disorder, must eat 60 times a day to survive". New York: NewYork Daily. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  14. ↑ Freeman, David (29 June 2010). "Girl Must Eat Every 15 Minutes: Lizzie Velasquez Stays Skeletal Despite Nonstop Eating". CBS News. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Lizzie Velasquez's Lifelong Struggle With Bullying Revealed". Entertainment Tonight. February 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Lizzie Velasquez, Born Without Adipose Tissue: 'Maybe You Should Stop Staring And Start Learning'". Huffington Post. September 13, 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Hawkins, Kathleen (14 March 2015). "'Bullies called me the world's ugliest woman online'". BBC News. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Velasquez, Lizzie. "Be Beautiful, Be You". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  19. ↑ Velasquez, Lizzie. "Sé bella, sé tú misma". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  20. ↑ Velasquez, Lizzie. "Choosing Happiness". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

External links