Lizzie Velásquez

Lizzie Velásquez

Lizzie stepping out of a swimming pool
Born Elizabeth Ann Velásquez
(1989-03-13) March 13, 1989
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Nationality American
Other names Lizzie Velásquez
Alma mater Texas State University
Occupation

Motivational speaker

First spoke with Barbizon modeling acting agency in 2014
Known for Public speaking, anti-bullying activism, public appearances, and book authorship
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 on March 13, 1989 in Austin, Texas.[2] Born four weeks prematurely, her birth weight was only 1.219 kilograms (2 pounds eleven ounces).[3][4] She studied at Texas State University[3] until late 2012, majoring in communication studies.[5]

Condition

She has zero percent body fat and has never weighed more than 29 kg (64 pounds).[6] She is unable to gain weight[7] and is required to eat many small meals and snacks throughout the day. She is blind in her right eye, which began to cloud over when she was four years of age,[8] and has limited vision in the other.[9] She has a weak immune system.[10] 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.[11]

Outlook on life

Ever since Lizzie was dubbed the "World's Ugliest Woman" by cyberbullies in a video posted on YouTube, Lizzie has spoken out against bullying and has attended one of the most influential conferences: TED, where she talked about the topic of "How Do YOU Define Yourself" and has garnered 40 million views on her YouTube Channel. Lizzie is known for her optimism. [4][8][12][13][14]

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 books directed towards teenagers, which share personal stories from her life and offer 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'.[12] That book is also available in Spanish as Sé bella, sé tú misma (2013).[13] 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'.[14] 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.[15]

See also

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". Myheritage.com.
  3. 1 2 Texas Woman Can't Gain Weight, Bullied Over Looks ABC News, September 14, 2012
  4. 1 2 '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. ↑ How Do YOU Define Yourself Lizzie Velasquez at TEDxAustinWomen
  7. ↑ Meet woman who can’t gain weight: At 21, she’s 60 pounds Today Health at today.com, July 6, 2010
  8. 1 2 Lessons from the 'World's Ugliest Woman': 'Stop Staring and Start Learning' by Lylah M. Alphonse of Yahoo! Shine, September 13, 2012
  9. ↑ Velasquez, Lizzie. "About Lizzie".
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Freeman, David (29 June 2010). "Girl Must Eat Every 15 Minutes: Lizzie Velasquez Stays Skeletal Despite Nonstop Eating". CBS News. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  12. 1 2 Velasquez, Lizzie. "Be Beautiful, Be You". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  13. 1 2 Velasquez, Lizzie. "Sé bella, sé tú misma". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  14. 1 2 Velasquez, Lizzie. "Choosing Happiness". Liguori.org. Liguori Publications. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Hawkins, Kathleen (14 March 2015). "'Bullies called me the world's ugliest woman online'". BBC News. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

External links

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