Sidi Ifni, Morocco- Labeled ‘the World’s Ugliest Woman’ by social media users, Lizzie Valasquez decided to change her life and reject this degrading label in order to realize her dream of becoming an inspirational woman, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Even though some disturbed Internet users urged Valasquez to kill herself because of her “ugliness”, Valasquez sought to prove to her critics that life is not about how one looks like, but rather about what one does for others.
Valasquez was born with a rare genetic condition that left her blind in her right eye, made her lose weight easily, and grow old quickly.
Valasquez explained that the relentless taunting she suffered throughout her life is in fact the inspiration for her desire to become an author and motivational speaker.
A YouTube video of herself entitled ‘World’s Ugliest Woman’ was a turning point in her life, she added.
In response, she said, “Am I going to let the people who called me a monster define me? No. I’m going to let my goals and my success and my accomplishments be the things that define me.”
Since then, she has always sought to go down in history and beat those who once bullied her at school, in her community, and all over the world.
“The best way that I could get back at all those people who made fun of me…was to make myself better,” she said.
Commenting on the curse of her disease, she said, “God has blessed me with the greatest blessing of my life, my syndrome."
Following her numerous inspirational speeches, she has won over the hearts and minds of many people from all over the world.
A large number of people, particularly those also suffering from illnesses or diseases, have written to her to express their empathy, appreciation, and admiration for her new victorious life.
“This morning when I woke up, my phone, email, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook were about to explode with love!!” she wrote.
Valasquez, who was born in Texas in 1989, published her autobiography and a second book entitled “Be Beautiful, Be You.”
She has also made appearances at conferences, meetings, and interviews for the purpose of disseminating her principles of optimism, tenacity and faith.
The goal behind her pursuits is to encourage and support other people who also feel like outcasts. She wants to help them understand that they just need to be themselves. As her own journey demonstrates, overcoming obstacles in life is always possible.
Edited by Anna Jacobs
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