How do you define yourself?

When Lizzie Velásquez was in high school, someone posted a video labeling her the world’s ugliest woman. It was 8 seconds long and it went viral.

Join me in being utterly outraged.

Lizzie has a condition that is so rare that only two other people are known to have it; so rare that it doesn’t even have a name. She is unable to gain weight – she has zero percent body fat, and has never weighed more than 64 pounds. She is blind in her right eye, and has limited vision in her left. She has a weak immune system. Her physical characteristics resemble those diagnosed with Progeria, where symptoms of aging manifest at an early age, but she has additional problems beyond that diagnostic classification.

Now join me in applauding her, because instead of letting her condition and subsequent bullying bring her down, she has used it as motivation. She has used the negativity as an opportunity to speak out about bullying, about acceptance, and about creating her own definitions of beauty and happiness.

She recently gave a speech at TEDxAustinWomen where she asked the question, “How do you define yourself?” It’s fantastic.

I started realizing my life is in my hands. I could be grateful and open my eyes and realize that things I do have, and make those the things that define me. I can’t see out of one eye, but I can see out of the other. I might get sick a lot, but I have really nice hair. I could choose to be happy, or I could choose to be upset with what I have and complain about it. Am I going to let the people that called me a monster define me? No. I am going to let my goals, and my success, and my accomplishments be the things that define me.

Additionally, she published the book Be Beautiful, Be You in which she advocates that appearance doesn’t matter, and encourages people to focus on what’s happening on the inside.

Insert applause.