You don't have to be a Christian to resonate with this Lizzie Velasquez' inspiring message about seeing beauty in ourselves. She was voted the World's Ugliest Woman, unbeknownst to her, by bullies on the internet who made a brutal silent 8-second video about her, that was seen by millions and commented on by thousands.

Yet, she overcame the devastation that such an experience could exert onto a young person and found her life's work to be a public speaker and empower women to see their true worth.

Her strength to persevere and triumph over the potentially-crushing onslaught of negative public opinion makes her a heroine in our eyes.

I honor Lizzie Velasquez and am incredibly inspired by her bravery.

-Alok Appadurai, Communications Director for A Beautiful Body Project, a writer, a social entrepreneur, co-founder of Fed By Threads, and proud father.