Lizzie Velasquez, Once Labeled World's Ugliest Woman, Using Faith in Jesus to Spread Message of Love and Tolerance (VIDEO)
A woman born with an extremely rare genetic ailment is using the Jesus' love to overcome the hate directed at her, while spreading an inspirational message of love and acceptance.
Lizzie Velasquez is an author and motivational speaker who is one of only three people on Earth born with a condition that prevents her from gaining any weight. She has never weighed over 62 pounds in her life, and was also born sightless in her right eye.
"It's not easy, I will be the first to tell you it's not easy," Velasquez previously told HLN during an interview. "I may have this outer exterior of people saying, 'She can handle everything, she's dealt with this for so long,' and to be honest, I'm human and of course these things are going to hurt."
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While still in high school she came across a video of herself on YouTube labeled "The World's Ugliest Woman" prior to her junior year.
Velasquez's parents attempted to get the YouTube video taken off, but the unidentified figure who posted it professed he would never remove it citing the video's four million hits.
Instead of suffering from anger, hopelessness and depression, Velasquez took a different approach to her attitude.
Being raised in the Catholic Church where both her parents worked Velasquez's chose to serve Jesus Christ which provided her the strength to face her tormentors.
After educating some high school freshmen about her rare disorder, she challenged the issue of bullying face-to-face and generated a schedule of dialogue arrangements.
As a result, Velasquez appeared on multiple television programs which allowed her to produce three books, including "Be Beautiful, Be You."
"It's been my rock through everything, just having the time to be alone and pray and talk to God and know that He's there for me," said Velasquez.
This year she is planning to continue to devote her time and energy revealing her story of perseverance and faith.
"Even when it seems like things will never get better in the darkest times," the new Texas State University alumnus told Charisma News. "If you have faith and continue to push yourself, you can eventually get through anything."
