Lizzie Velasquez Quotes

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Lizzie Velasquez

Profession : Activist

Birth : March 13, 1989

As I got older, I knew my syndrome wasn't going away. It was a hard pill to swallow. I wanted to look like everyone else and blend in, and I couldn't find a way to make that happen. I couldn't blame the doctors or my parents, so I blamed myself.

Lizzie Velasquez

In 2013, I did a TEDx talk in Austin. Until then I had sort of a following online but this was completely different - it went viral.

Lizzie Velasquez

I feel I'm really glad I don't look like the celebrities out there who are beautiful, because there are a lot of stereotypes attached to that.

Lizzie Velasquez

I could eat absolutely whatever I want, whenever I want and I won't really gain any weight. I'm going to be 25 in March, and I've never weighed over about 64 pounds in my entire life.

Lizzie Velasquez

No matter what age you are, I think if you're a girl or a boy, you're insecure. And it's not easy.

Lizzie Velasquez

Beyond scheduling regular checkups with my cardiologist, there is no way to know if or when my heart condition might become critical.

Lizzie Velasquez

Friends who were so supportive absolutely made my high school - that could have been traumatic - they definitely made it bearable.

Lizzie Velasquez

You'd assume I was being bullied a tonne at school and it was horrible, but in reality, I really was getting bullied everywhere else.

Lizzie Velasquez

You are the biggest influencer in your life.

Lizzie Velasquez

Back when Myspace was around I couldn't wait to have my own account. My parents told me I could get one as long as I was okay with the fact that with the good comes the bad.

Lizzie Velasquez

I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.

Lizzie Velasquez

I feel like I've built up this persona of always being positive and always being happy, and I worried if my audience sees me not in that light, will they think less of me? Will they discredit me? Will I just be nothing?

Lizzie Velasquez

My original plan was to graduate high school and major in computer engineering at college. That went out the window, and I said, 'I have to do something with speaking.'

Lizzie Velasquez

No matter what we look like or what size we are, at the end of the day we are all human.

Lizzie Velasquez

I experienced bullying as early as the first day of kindergarten and there were times where I wish could escape out of my body.

Lizzie Velasquez

But I have the most incredible support system in the world. They let me have those times when I just want to cry. But I give myself a deadline and say, today's my sad day but tomorrow when the sun comes up it's done.

Lizzie Velasquez

I've met so many people who have come up to tell me their personal stories, and a lot of them express the same feelings that I have, especially reading things online.

Lizzie Velasquez

But after the TED talk went viral, I called Sara Hirsh Bordo, who had produced TEDxAustinWomen, to ask her advice. She told me she'd like to do a documentary, and that we should work together on anti-bullying efforts.

Lizzie Velasquez

Having to look a certain way, or be a certain weight, comes from magazines, movies, the media.

Lizzie Velasquez

I credit a lot of learning to love myself to my faith, my family and my friends. Everyone needs someone you can look to for constant support, who you never have to impress, to share your happy and sad days.

Lizzie Velasquez