In 2008, Velasquez and friends produced a video called “The Strength to be Lizzie,” and posted it on YouTube. In the video, Velasquez, her friends and parents talk about her, her unnamed syndrome and how everyone has helped her deal with bullying and cyberbullying. The video was a hit, and she was bombarded with positive messages. Some people posted videos of their own to express their support for her. That’s when she decided to put her life experiences into motivational speeches for students around the country. Eventually she wrote two books. Her first book, Lizzie Beautiful came out in 2010. Her second book, Be Beautiful, Be You, was published in 2012. It’s a self-help book for pre-teens and young adults, and covers everything from how to make and keep good friends to learning to love yourself.
