Lizzie Velasquez

Cynthia Lee

Rita Velásquez

Lizzie Velasquez was born with a rare condition that does not allow her to gain weight. She not only looks unnaturally thin but her features seem distorted. Also, due to her condition, she has lost sight in one of her eyes. Despite these handicaps, Lizzie is pursuing a college education and has become a motivational speaker, telling her inspiring story to others.

The Lizzie Velásquez Story

Lizzie Beautiful

'Lizzie has been able to embody the power of hope and compassion in everything she does. Stories like hers keep me inspired every day.' Michelle Obama 'Lizzie is making our culture a kinder one by encouraging people to undermine hate through self-acceptance and everyday acts of empathy. Her heart and humour shine through on every page!' -Lilly Singh, entertainer, comedian and author of How to Be a Bawse Celebrated motivational speaker and YouTube sensation Lizzie Velasquez shows us how we can learn to accept all parts of ourselves and others to create a culture of kindness and a more compassionate world. Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn't until she was much older that she understood what that meant to others. At seventeen she came across a viral video entitled 'World's Ugliest Woman'- only to discover that it featured her. In response, she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere and created one of YouTube's most popular motivational channels and a TEDx talk that has drawn tens of millions of viewers. In this daring, inspiring book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt, shame and cruelty, and empowers us to redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and coping with disappointment, she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity. Dare to Be Kind presents the path to acceptance, love and tolerance, and offers a blueprint for how to lead a resilient life and, ultimately, forge a radically compassionate world.

How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World

Dare to be Kind

YouTube personality and celebrated motivational speaker Lizzie Velasquez shows us how we can learn to accept all parts of ourselves and others, and in doing so create a more compassionate world. Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but not until she was older did she understand what that meant to others. At 17 years old, when she came across a viral video entitled "World's Ugliest Woman," only to discover that it featured her, she could no longer ignore what set her apart. She devoted herself to investigating the underlying sources of bullying and standing up on behalf of victims everywhere, creating one of the web's most popular YouTube channels and a TED talk that has drawn tens of millions of viewers. In this daring, inspirational book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt, shame, and cruelty, and empowers us to redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and coping with disappointment, she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles in our path and move forward with greater positivity and the right mental attitude. Brilliantly drawing on Lizzie's wisdom and sentiment, Dare to Be Kind presents the path to acceptance, love, and tolerance, and provides a framework to help us lead confident, resilient lives and, ultimately, forge a radically kind world.

Lizzie Velasquez recently graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a degree in communications. She is one of only three known people in the world with a medical syndrome that doesn't allow her to gain weight or create muscle. Lizzie, an author of three books, has appeared as a motivational speaker at more than 200 workshops. Her story has been featured in national and international media, including The Today Show, Inside Edition, Katie Couric, Dr. Drew, Australia's Sunday Night, and Germany's Explosiv.

Choosing Happiness

In a time when beauty is dictated by magazine covers and actresses, Lizzie Velasquez provides a first account of her journey to find the beauty within and reemphasize the importance of staying true to oneself. Sections include advice on being unique, how

Lizzie Velasquez

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