With my first initial glimpse of Lizzie Velaquez I was intrigued to know her story. I wanted to know who she was, where she had come from, and what her journey had been.
At the age of 23, cyber bullies deemed her as the ugliest woman in the world. Lizzie was born without adipose tissue resulting in zero body fat. Later on, she was diagnosed with Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS), which causes rapid aging, fat loss, and tissue degeneration. She has taken these trials and used them to help individuals with image problems all around the world.
Instead of letting the world dictate how she felt about herself, she endeavored to change the world’s perception of her. Instead of locking herself in her room crying wo is me, she said: it’s you. It’s you that has to change how you “look” and start seeing with different eyes.
One of my favorite quotations was said by Eleanor Roosevelt, “ No one can you make you feel inferior without your consent.” Lizzie Velaquez is the living epitome of this quote. It takes true courage to stand up to the world and prove them wrong. She has redefined the word “beauty” and has risen above the bullies who encircle her everyday.
The most important thing I’ve learned from Lizzie’s example is that you cannot let the world tell you who you are. You are who you are. Embrace the beauty within. Many individuals, including myself, have battled and are still battling with self-image insecurity. Is it the world telling us that we ugly? Fat? Unlovable? What if we stood against the world and said, “ Wait… I am beautiful! Amazing! Intelligent!”
Lizzie is an inspiration to all individuals who struggle with what the “world” thinks of them. Let’s stand against the bullies and band together. Let’s love each other for who we are and not what we look like. Let’s stop staring and start learning. Let’s start getting to know each other and start embracing the beautiful people we are inside and out.