The comments on an Instagram post or in the Reply "hole" on Facebook can be pretty rough on anyone's self-esteem. Because some commenters generally suck. (Sorry, too much?) But ten years ago, one woman, Lizzie Velasquez, had to learn to redefine what beauty meant to her after seeing a video of herself and viewing the comments Internet trolls left beneath it. Because why would any kind 17-year-old be featured in a YouTube video and not get called the "ugliest woman in the world," right? (No. Not. Right.)
Velasquez couldn't pull her teenage self from the comments section, and she read through them—thousands—until she had read every last one. "I was so desperate to find one person that was standing up for me," she says. "And I never found it." In that moment, she decided she wasn't going to let their negative comments be the definition of who she is—exceptionally brave and sage for a teenager, to be honest.
To back up, Velasquez was born with a rare disease called neonatal progeroid syndrome, which stunts growth and affects her eyes, bones, and heart. The disease also has a high mortality rate, with most infants not making it past seven months, according to the National Institutes of Health, and others making it to their teens or early 20s.
At birth, Velasquez was just 2 pounds and 10 ounces. Doctors even took a picture of her to show to her parents to prepare them, but her size never bothered them. Instead, they welcomed her into their lives with all of the love and support in the world, which has since enabled her to become a motivational speaker and author, sharing her story—and how to deal with those awful Internet trolls.
In the latest video from our Dispelling Beauty Myths series, watch Lizzie Velasquez share her story on how awful those comments made her feel and the moment she realized beauty was more than hair and makeup. We totally agree, too. Check it out below:
Talent: Lizzie Velasquez
Director: StyleLikeUEditor: StyleLikeUVideographer: StyleLikeU
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