A woman labelled the 'ugliest in the world' has revealed the amazing way she tackles online bullying.
Lizzie Velasquez, now 26, was born with a rare disease that makes her blind in one eye and prevents her from gaining weight. Her life changed for ever after she stumbled across a YouTube video labelled 'the world's ugliest woman.'
Lizzie, who was just 17 at the time, was horrified to find that the girl in the clip was her. The vicious footage was watched four million times online, with many leaving disgusting comments about Lizzie, including suggestions that she should have been killed at birth.
Lizzie Velasquez, now 26, was born with a rare disease that makes her blind in one eye and prevents her from gaining weight. Her life changed for ever after she stumbled across a YouTube video labelled 'the world's ugliest woman.'
Lizzie, who was just 17 at the time, was horrified to find that the girl in the clip was her. The vicious footage was watched four million times online, with many leaving disgusting comments about Lizzie, including suggestions that she should have been killed at birth.
But inspirational Lizzie said she managed to turn the horrific comments into something positive.
She told Fox News: "There were thousands and thousands of awful comments, all along the lines of: the world would be a better place if I weren’t in it.
"Each comment I read I felt like someone was physically putting their fist through the screen and punching me.
"I always knew I wanted to show those people that they weren’t going to define me.
"I didn’t want the definition of me that they were creating to become my truth."
Lizzie has now has released a documentary to inspire others, 'A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez story'.
She also travels the world helping troubled youngsters.
Lizzie said she makes others who have been bullied for the way they look feel able to seek help, or stand up to the bullies.
She also works with Tina Meier, whose daughter Megan killed herself after being bullied online.