Lizzie Velasquez

Lizzie Velasquez picture (www.popmythology.com ())

"Instead of just taking shelter of my tears, I chose to be happy and realize this syndrome is not a problem but a blessing that allows me to improve myself and inspire other people" says Lizzie Velasquez. This was Velasquez's attitude towards life to achieve her goals. Lizzie was born with a rare syndrome that has many effects, one being that she cannot gain weight, and one that she is blind in one eye. Lizzie Velasquez was born March 13, 1989, weighing 2 pounds and 10 ounces, which is half the normal size of a average baby (Bordo). Even inherited with this, she has always been strong and resilient. Lizzie Velasquez is now a twenty-one year old woman who was born with a rare syndrome that only three other people in the world have. Velasquez has had this disease since day one, but it was when she was in kindergarten that she first discovered it. Many of the other kids secluded her because of what she looked like. When Lizzie was seventeen years old a viral video of her as a young child titles "World's Ugliest Woman" changed her life dramatically. Because of this horrific event, she decided that she wanted to help others. She is now a motivational speaker inspiring others to love themselves and to be optimistic. A hero must possess bravery, perseverance and be an inspiration to all, and Velasquez has all of theses qualities and more. Thousands of people have put Lizzie down, but she wouldn't let that stop her from striving forward to gain even more achievable things. She put her game face on and set towards the world with her brave heart.

Baby Picture (www.pinterest.com ())

Lizzie was born to be unsuccessful, but she persevered and rose above that guideline, becoming an ambitious and strong role-model. Lizzie Velasquez was a strong person who persevered through all that was thrust upon her. "Lizzie's revealing new book, Lizzie Beautiful , describes how she is often labeled incorrectly as anorexic and how cruel insults and stares have led her to become a strong and driven young woman. 'I wanted to write a book to show people you can fulfill your dreams if you are determined,' said Lizzie."(PR Newswire). Though Lizzie was unsuccessful at the start, she rose past all expectations and persevered through it all. She fought through the many tough times she had, becoming a better person from it. Lizzie Velasquez did not chose to be different, it was thrust upon her, but she didn't let that stop her from becoming an amazing woman. Even when experiencing all this, she wanted to help others going through the same thing. "Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school for looking different and, later online, as a teenager when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her "The World's Ugliest Woman." (Bordo). Lizzie had tough times where she wished that her syndrome would go away, and that people would treat her the same as others. But, she persevered and look where that got her today. Velasquez had many people put her down, because of something that she couldn't help. She was born with this, yet many still continue to try to make her feel bad about herself. She persevered through all this and became a successful woman.

Lizzie at Austin Women presentation (www.pinkvilla.com ())

Lizzie was always brave and resilient even through everything she had gone through. People didn't expect much from her, she was believed to never accomplish anything."Despite doctors' predictions she would never walk, talk, or be independent, Lizzie kept getting stronger, excelled at school and is now a college senior."(PR Newswire). Lizzie was a baby who was not expected to make any accomplishments, but she pushed and was brave and hurdled the low bar set by others and made great accomplishments. Thousands of people put Lizzie down, but she won't let that stop her from striving forward to gain achievable things. Velazquez always kept a smile on her brave face, and her philosophy was to stay happy."We live in a culture of tremendous meanness. And few people have experienced it more than Lizzie. Bullying first became a reality when she entered kindergarten and the whispers and the pointing began because Lizzie looked different. At 17, discovering "The World's Ugliest Woman" video, with its 8 seconds of Lizzie's face, its 4 million views, and its thousands of comments including KILL IT WITH FIRE."(Bordo). Even though many people hurt her with hateful comments and videos, she was brave and showed her face to the crowd to share her experiences. She has spoken at more than 200 hundred workshops (Biography in context) even though thousands of people have brought her down. Lizzie went beyond people's expectations to never be able to walk, or talk or doing anything. She is a motivational speaker, which is an amazing accomplishment. This was especially incredible for someone who used to not be able to show her face to her kindergarten class because of what she looked like.

I am fighting back (blogs.indiewire.com ())

Lizzie is inspiring because even when she was bullied, teased, and brought down, she showed the world who she really was. Lizzie is a successful woman despite what she has gone through. She inspires all for what she has done. "Lizzie, a 21-year-old college student, has to eat every 20 minutes and consumes up to 6,000 calories a day, but rarely weighs more than 60 lbs. She is one of only three people known worldwide with this mystery syndrome. Lizzie's revealing new book, Lizzie Beautiful , describes how she is often labeled incorrectly as anorexic and how cruel insults and stares have led her to become a strong and driven young woman." (PR Newswire). Lizzie Velasquez is an inspirational young woman who inspires others to be resilient and not let anyone bring them down. She wanted to help people from the start, to inspire others even though she was the one suffering from the rare syndrome. Lizzie was bullied so much, along with millions of other who have also been bullied. "Bullying is a subject that historically yields heartbreaking stories of hopelessness and in many times, loss. Rarely is there a story of survival and inspiration that continues to crossover ages, genders, and ethnicities... enter the brave story of Lizzie Velasquez."(Bordo). Lizzie was an inspiration because of her rare story of starting at the bottom and rising to the top.  Lizzie wanted to help people from the start, to inspire others even though she was the one suffering from the rare disease. Lizzie is a person who has gone through tough times, and wants to inspire others who have gone through the same thing or going through the same thing, to put up a smile and stay positive.

Lizzie Velasquez put her game face on and set towards the world with her brave heart, even though thousands of people have put Lizzie down, but she wouldn't let that stop her from striving forward to gain even more achievable things. Lizzie Velasquez was an inspiration to all because she has gone through so much, but she has a smile on her face. She has gotten bullied by thousands of people, but she showed them her amazing personalities of bravery and perseverance. Velazquez fought through all of this and became motivational speaker. She inspires me to not let other people ruin my day. To always speak kind words to others, and never make them feel worthless. Velasquez has been bullied beyond belief, and she has always been strong. I want to be strong and ambitious like her. Reading her story it shows how bullying can hurt someone, but it also shows how you shouldn't let it affect you.

Works Cited

Bordo, Sara Hirish. "A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story." A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.

Calderone, Ana. "How Being Called 'World's Ugliest Woman' Turned a 17-Year-Old into an Activist." PEOPLE.com. N.p., 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 01 May 2015.

Hawkins, Kathleen. "Lizzie Velasquez: 'Online Bullies Called Me the World's Ugliest Woman' - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 14 Mar. 2015. Web. 07 May 2015. .

LIZZIE VELASQUEZ CHOOSES HAPPINESS, BATTLES BULLYING; She asks her audiences, 'what defines you?' She defines herself as a woman who has accomplished her goals." Austin American-Statesman [TX] 27 July 2014: D1. Student Resources in Context. Web. 7 May 2015.

"60-Pound Woman Who Can't Gain Weight Writes Tell-All to Inspire: 'Lizzie Beautiful,' Available Now on Amazon." PR Newswire 8 Sept. 2010. Biography in Context. Web. 4 May 2015.