Lizzie Velásquez

Background & Expertise

Lizzie Velásquez has transformed personal adversity into global impact through her powerful advocacy work on bullying prevention, self-acceptance, and inner beauty. Born with a rare congenital condition that prevents her from gaining weight and affects her facial appearance, Velásquez endured severe bullying throughout her childhood, culminating in the traumatic discovery at age 17 of a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman” with millions of views and cruel comments.

Rather than being defeated by this experience, Velásquez developed extraordinary psychological resilience and emotional intelligence, eventually becoming an internationally recognized motivational speaker, author, and anti-bullying advocate. Her TEDx Talk “How Do YOU Define Yourself?” has been viewed over 13 million times, launching her global platform for promoting kindness, self-acceptance, and positive mental health.

Signature Concepts & Methodologies

Define Yourself Framework

Velásquez’s approach to developing identity and self-worth based on internal values rather than external judgments or appearances.

Bully-Proofing System

Her methodology for building psychological resilience against negative external voices through specific self-talk and perspective-taking practices.

Radical Self-Acceptance Process

Velásquez’s step-by-step approach to embracing perceived differences as sources of unique contribution rather than limitations.

The Courage Cascade

Her framework showing how small acts of bravery build momentum toward life-changing confidence and impact.

Kindness Multiplication Strategy

Velásquez’s approach to creating positive cultural change through intentional acts of compassion and inclusion.

Books & Thought Leadership

• Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velásquez Story
• Be Beautiful, Be You
• Dare to Be Kind: How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World
• Subject of the documentary “A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velásquez Story”
• Successful advocate for the first federal anti-bullying bill in the United States.
• Creator of numerous educational programs for schools on bullying prevention and self-esteem.

Speaking Style & Audience Experience

Velásquez delivers presentations with disarming humor, emotional authenticity, and inspiring resilience that creates immediate connection with audiences across demographics. Her speaking style balances heartbreaking personal experiences with uplifting messages of hope and empowerment, creating sessions that acknowledge pain while focusing on possibility. She excels at making abstract concepts like self-acceptance and inner beauty tangible through concrete examples and practical strategies.

What distinguishes Velásquez’s keynotes is her embodiment of her message—her physical presence on stage directly challenges conventional beauty standards while her confidence and joy demonstrate the power of self-definition. She creates transformative moments through the stark contrast between her traumatic bullying experiences and her current impact as a globally respected advocate. Attendees consistently report experiencing perspective shifts about both external appearance and inner character, with many implementing her strategies for both self-acceptance and creating more inclusive environments.

Ideal Audiences & Event Types

• Educational institutions and youth development programs
• Corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Healthcare and mental health conferences
• Women’s empowerment and body image events
• Social media and technology companies addressing online behavior
• Organizations focused on bullying prevention and positive culture

Recent Focus Areas

• Building digital citizenship and online kindness initiatives
• Developing self-acceptance practices for social media-saturated environments
• Creating inclusive approaches to beauty and appearance standards
• Implementing bullying prevention programs for schools and organizations
• Advancing mental health support for targets of appearance-based discrimination