Meet Lizzie Velaquez, the 'world's ugliest woman'! She will inspire you!

Lizzie Velásquez

 Elizabeth Ann Velásquez suffers from a disease that is so rare, that it is believed only two other persons in the world suffer from the disease. The disease prevents her from accumulating fat because she was born with no adipose tissue. She has zero percent body fat and has never weighed more than 29 kg (64 pounds). She can’t gain weight and has to eat small meals throughout the day, up to as much as sixty times. She has to eat food containing high calorie every fifteen to twenty minutes to keep her energy level high. Her condition also causes her to have an aging skin. She is totally blind in her right eye and her left vision is impaired.

 

She was so small at birth that her parents had to by dolls clothes for her because baby clothes were too big for her. She doesn't take medication but she relies on vitamin supplements and iron to stay healthy.  Medical experts think she will be able to conceive naturally and won’t transfer the condition to her children.

Lizzie’s story is such a huge inspiration. Despite her condition, she has chosen to carry on with life. Though doctors never gave her a chance; her parents were told at birth that she would never be able to talk, walk or live a normal life but she has defied such predictions and is going strong. She chose to live!

An object of bully, both physical and cyber (In fact, she came to international attention when someone posted a video of hers on YouTube with the caption “The World’s Ugliest Woman”), she has chosen to ignore negative comments and reactions to her. She has chosen to live a beautiful life and she is inspiring many today. The wicked video led her to start her own YouTube channel. She wanted to make a change. She wanted people to know who she really was and also teach others to be confident in their skin. What a brave woman! Her channel has about 240,000 subscribers.

Lizzie's family

Lizzie Velaquez refused to give up on life. She went to school and is now a university graduate. She has written two books. She is now into advocacy and motivational speaking. In her first book, Be Beautiful, Be You, she advises on how to deal with negativity and how to maintain one’s uniqueness. Choosing Happiness is her second book and in it, she shares her life story, especially the difficulties she has faced in life. She also talks about the importance of choosing to be happy no matter the odds against one. Lizzie has accomplished in her short years living what many will never achieve in a lifetime. She has refused to be deterred by her circumstances. She chose to rise above her unpalatable circumstances and she is living her life to the fullest. Her story has been produced into a documentary, through which she teaches how to triumph over adversity. She has refused to be a victim. She is determined to make a change. What a beautiful woman through and through! Lots of love Lizzie!