In an era of reality TV stars and Insta-famous wannabes, it’s easy to lose sight of life’s real heroes.
One such hero is Lizzie Velasquez, who has taken on online trolls after finding herself featured in a cruel meme that targeted her disability.
Lizzie has a rare genetic illness that means that she cannot gain weight, and has never weighed more than 29 kilograms. She is also partially blind.
In 2006 – when the Texan was just 16 – a Youtube video dubbed her the world’s ugliest woman. But Lizzie turned the publicity to her advantage and spoke out against the bullying.
She has since become a motivational speaker who is known for her TedX talk “How do you define yourself?” and her Youtube videos have amassed more than 50 million views. She also starred in the documentary A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story.
This week, Lizzie once again spoke out in the face of bullying after a meme was circulated poking fun of her appearance.
She wrote:
I’ve seen a ton of memes like this all over @facebook recently. I’m writing this post not as someone who is a victim but as someone who is using their voice.
Yes, it’s very late at night as I type this but I do so as a reminder that the innocent people that are being put in these memes are probably up just as late scrolling through Facebook and feeling something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. No matter what we look like or what size we are, at the end of the day we are all human.
I ask that you keep that in mind the next time you see a viral meme of a random stranger. At the time you might find it hilarious but the human in the photo is probably feeling the exact opposite. Spread love not hurtful words via a screen. Xoxo Lizzie
