Lizzie Velasquez

Lizzie Velásquez – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Lizzie Velásquez (born March 13, 1989) is an American motivational speaker, author, and anti-bullying activist. Learn her life story, advocacy work, challenges, and inspiring quotes about self-worth and kindness.

Introduction

Lizzie Velásquez is a modern voice of courage, empathy, and self-acceptance. Born with a rare congenital condition that prevents her from gaining body fat, she was subjected to mocking and cyberbullying from a young age. Instead of bowing to cruelty, she turned her pain into purpose. Today, she travels the world speaking on bullying, identity, and kindness, inspiring people of all ages to embrace their authentic selves. Her story powerfully illustrates how adversity can become the foundation for advocacy and change.

Early Life and Family

Elizabeth Anne “Lizzie” Velásquez was born on March 13, 1989, in Austin, Texas, to parents Rita Borja Velásquez and Guadalupe Fonsi Velásquez.

Lizzie was born prematurely, four weeks ahead of schedule, and weighed only about 2 pounds 11 ounces (≈ 1,219 grams). blind in her right eye, and has limited vision in her left.

While her condition made certain physical tasks more challenging, her family environment provided love, support, and affirmation. These early years laid the emotional and spiritual foundation for her later advocacy.

Youth, Education & Growth

During her school years, Lizzie was frequently stared at, judged, and bullied. As a teenager, she discovered that a YouTube video had been posted naming her the “World’s Ugliest Woman.”

She attended Texas State University, where she studied Communication Studies, and graduated around late 2012. Her training in communication equipped her with tools she would later use in public speaking, media work, and writing.

Her faith also played a central role in her development—Lizzie has spoken openly about her Catholic beliefs and how they anchor her through trials and serve as a source of resilience.

Career and Achievements

From Bullying Victim to Motivational Voice

At age 17, the viral video calling her “the world’s ugliest woman” could have driven her to despair—but instead, Lizzie made a radical decision: to define her identity on her own terms.

In January 2014, she gave a TEDx talk titled “How Do YOU Define Yourself?”, which became widely viewed and helped expand her platform.

Books & Media

Lizzie has authored multiple books, many of which are deeply personal and accessible to young readers:

• Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velásquez Story (2010), co-written with her mother.

• Be Beautiful, Be You (2012) — a message of inner beauty and self-confidence for teens.

• Choosing Happiness (2014) — addressing challenges and the power of choice.

• Dare to Be Kind: How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World (2017) — focusing on kindness as a response to adversity.

Her life was also captured in the documentary A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velásquez Story, which premiered at SXSW in March 2015.

She later expanded into digital media: her own show Unzipped with Lizzie Velásquez launched in April 2017 on the Fullscreen platform.

Advocacy & Impact

Lizzie’s voice crosses audiences, from schools and universities to workplaces and international conferences. Her message is grounded in anti-bullying, disability awareness, self-worth, and compassion.

She uses social media, public speaking circuits, film, and writing to reach millions. Her TED talk, videos, and appearances have collectively garnered tens of millions of views.

Lizzie also often issues the challenge “Stop Staring, Start Learning”, inviting curiosity and empathy over judgment.

Historical & Cultural Context

Lizzie’s life and work sit at the intersection of several contemporary social issues:

• Cyberbullying & Online Culture: Her early experience with a hurtful viral video illustrates how social media can magnify cruelty—but also how it offers a stage for resistance.

• Disability & Difference: By openly discussing her rare condition, she challenges societal norms about beauty, ability, and inclusion.

• Mental Health & Self-Esteem: Her work speaks to the inner battles many face—shame, self-doubt, isolation—and offers tools of resilience.

• Advocacy & Youth Movements: In an age of activism, Lizzie is part of a wave of individuals turning personal narratives into broader social change.

Her message resonates especially in a time when many young people struggle with digital comparison, identity, and belonging.

Legacy and Influence

While Lizzie is still alive and actively working, her legacy is already taking shape:

• She has redefined what it means to be a role model—not as someone flawless, but as someone courageous, authentic, and kind.

• Her approach to storytelling—transforming pain into purpose—has influenced how many other advocates and speakers share their journeys.

• She contributes to the broader dialogue on how society views physical difference, disability, and beauty.

• Her books, films, talks, and social media presence will continue to reach future generations.

Even as she continues to grow and evolve, her impact in reshaping hearts and minds is unmistakable.

Personality, Gifts & Character

Lizzie is known for her vulnerability, warmth, and intellectual clarity. She speaks with humility and honesty, often admitting her insecurities while giving hope to others.

Her strength lies not in concealing struggle, but in sharing it as part of a larger human story. She often emphasizes choice—that we may not control every circumstance, but we can choose how we respond.

Her gifts include:

• A talent for communication: she conveys complex emotional truths in accessible, moving ways.

• Empathy: she listens, connects, and affirms, especially toward those marginalized.

• Resilience: her life shows that courage is not absence of fear, but perseverance in spite of it.

Famous Quotes of Lizzie Velásquez

Here are several quotes from Lizzie Velásquez that capture her spirit and message:

1. “Stop staring. Start learning.”

2. “We can’t control how others see us, but we can control how we define ourselves.”

3. “You are not defined by your circumstances, but by how you choose to rise above them.”

4. “Kindness is not an act—it’s a lifestyle of compassion and connection.”

5. “When you choose to see the good in others, you not only uplift them—you uplift yourself.”

6. “Our scars may remind us of what happened, but they don’t have to dictate what happens next.”

These are but a sampling; her talks, books, and social media posts are filled with many more gems worth reflecting upon.

Lessons from Lizzie Velásquez

From Lizzie’s life and thought, we can draw enduring lessons:

• Transformation of pain into purpose: The deepest wounds can become the canvas for our greatest contributions.

• Radical acceptance: Accepting who we are—our bodies, minds, stories—allows us to live more freely.

• Power of kindness: Even small acts of empathy and respect can change atmospheres, cultures, and individual lives.

• Courage to define oneself: We don’t need validation from others to claim our own worth.

• Resilience is a practice: Strength is not a static trait but a habit of choosing again and again.

Conclusion

Lizzie Velásquez stands as a living testimony that adversity need not silence us—sometimes it is the spark for our voice. In a world quick to judge appearance, she compels us to look deeper, to show gentleness, and to reject cruelty.

Through her speaking, writing, advocacy, and example, she invites us not just to survive, but to thrive in compassion and courage. Her life is still unfolding, and her message continues to echo across classrooms, social media, and hearts worldwide.