Once labelled “The World’s Ugliest Woman,” Lizzie Velasquez is one of three known people in the world who suffers from a rare syndrome, which prevents her from gaining weight and has caused blindness in her right eye. But the 24-year-old consistently redefines what it means to be beautiful. On March 30, 2013, Lizzie Velasquez shared her “idea worth spreading” at a TEDx talk in Austin.

When Lizzie Velasquez was in high school, she discovered a video of herself on YouTube that was titled “The World’s Ugliest Woman” and had garnered millions of views. In that moment she had to decide whether or not she would let these people define her. With her family’s support she answered back and found the strength to turn hate into love and motivation. Today Lizzie calls it the “greatest blessing of her life.” “I’ve had a really difficult life, but that’s OK,” she adds. “I’m going to let my goals and my success and my accomplishments define me, not my outer appearance.”

At TEDxYouth@Austin Lizzie Velasquez told viewers how she resolved to take charge of her life by killing the negativity with ambition and by defining herself on her own terms.

What defines you? Your backgrounds, friends, families? Lizzie Velasquez definitely succeeds in reminding us that life is what you make it!

Today TED, the nonprofit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading which has brought together people from technology, entertainment and design since 1984, dedicates six talks to one single topic – a topic that is essential for IWISHUSUN too: blindness. In the case of TED their speakers examine how technology is changing blindness.

All in all we get to see and hear six talks on how those who can’t see can drive cars, take photographs and more. So Ron McCallum’s moving story is just one out of six and we recommend not to miss any of these videos. See the Mc Callum’s speech above and check out the other talks here.

Pic: Screenshot / youtube.