World's ugliest woman shares her incredible story.

A documentary about Lizzie Velasquez, once labelled the “world’s ugliest woman”, is premiering today at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas.

A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story explores the life of the 26-year-old, who has an incredibly rare syndrome that prevents her gaining weight.

She lacks energy at times because of her conditions, and takes a long time to fight off infections such as bronchitis. She is currently undergoing heart scans to determine whether or not Marfan syndrome has caused any defects, and she was admitted to hospital in November unable to keep down food due to a problem with her oesophagus.It is so rare that only two other people in the world have it. She has never weighed more than 64 pounds (4st 8lbs) and is blind in one eye.

She also has a recurring problem with her right foot which easily fractures due to a lack of fat on the sole, but is adamant she doesn't let it get her down.

"When I was a teenager I would look in the mirror and wish I could wash away my syndrome," she says. "I hated it because it caused so much pain in my life. Being a 13-year-old girl who is constantly picked on is unbearable."When she was born, Velasquez, from Texas, weighed just 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) and doctors told her parents that, in all probability, they would have to take care of her for the rest of her life and didn't know what her life expectancy was.Full of instant love for their daughter, Velasquez's parents, Rita and Lupe, say they never thought "why is this happening to us", and just wanted to get her home, to start her life.

It's because of this attitude that Velasquez credits her parents entirely for her ability to think positively when she was being bullied at school or stared at and mocked in the streets. As a child they told her to go to school with her head held high, smile, and be nice to everyone, no matter how they treated her. It's a message that has stuck and she says now that she happily forgives the person who posted that YouTube video nine years ago. "I don't know what they're going through," she says. "While my life may be hard at times, they could be going through something much worse."

She was first bullied at school for looking different and then online as a teenager.

When Velasquez was 17, she came across a YouTube video labelling her “the world’s ugliest woman” that had been watched over four million times.

One of the comments said: “Do the world a favour and put a gun to your head.” Others called her a "monster", told her parents to "kill it with fire" and said they should have aborted her.

But instead of causing Velasquez to shrink from public life, the video inspired her to start an anti-bullying campaign that led to the 2013 TED talk bringing her to international attention.Footage of her inspiring speech now has almost 7.2 million views on YouTube and its success inspired the creation of the documentary.

“I know what it is to be bullied and what is to be bullied online, and I want to be the protector of those who think it won't get better,” said Velasquez.

“Instead of just taking shelter of my tears, I chose to be happy and realise this syndrome is not a problem but a blessing that allows me to improve myself and inspire other people.”

Following the TED talk, she set up a Kickstarter campaign entitled “The Lizzie Project” to raise $180,000 (£107,000) towards a documentary on her life.

The campaign has now raised $215,000 (£146,000) from 3,564 backers and A Brave Heart is ready to hit the screen.

“Lizzie has such an inner strength and sense of humour that anyone can relate to her,” said Sara Bordo, a first-time director working with Velasquez on the film project. “We all have difficulties in life, but nothing compared to what she has been through. Her positive attitude elevates the spirit of any person in the world.”

Bordo said the support for A Brave Heart “knew no limits” and saw donations from 16 countries raised with everything from lemonade stands to pension funds.

Velasquez has also written three self-help books and is currently lobbying for America’s first federal anti-bullying bill.

Amazing! I can only imagine how she survived her adolescent years...kudos to her for being a winner and kudos to her parents for their love and support.It takes a truly brave heart to overcome bullying or any kind of inhuman treatment.  
Beauty is only skin deep...#let'sstopbullying