I am inspirational speaker, author, subject of the film A BRAVE HEART and anti-bullying activist Lizzie Velasquez. AMA!

You seem like an incredibly strong and positive person. You've commented in one answer here that "it's so easy to fall into a trap of negativity." Do you ever get really upset these days about personal comments about you? Are there any times when it just really gets to you, or do you find it relatively easy to brush it off nowadays?

Such a well thought-out question.

I absolutely do have days where things get to me. I have a lot of confidence in myself. BUT I am human, and there are times when comments get to me. But I've always said "No matter what, with the good comes the bad," so I can't let it sink in.

Hey Lizze! I actually found out about you the other day and watched a your TEDx Talk and some of your YouTube videos and you are just such an amazing person! You have such an amazing personality and a wonderful out look on life. You are definitely one of my favorite people!

Would you rather fight 100 duck sized horses or one horse sized duck?

looks surprised

What?!?!

The first one. The little horses. Because there's more opportunities to make friends with them.

How did or how do your parents react to bullying? You have been raised very well. I would think many people would have a natural instinct to get upset or angry watching their child be subjected to bullying or name calling. Have fun this weekend, all the best, thanks for your time!

They were ... let me ask them... one second.

walks outside of room to ask parents

So they listened to me and were very comforting. They never let me see that they were upset. They were always very positive with me. Positive, and reassuring.

Who inspires you? also, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Chocolate chip cookie dough!

Every day people, like people from around the world who email me and tell me their stories. That's what keeps me going.

I get all kinds of messages. In general, it's people who - in the beginning of the email - will tell me the struggles they've had, but after they hear my story, how much better their life has gotten and how happy they are.

I've gotten emails from Australia, Japan... all over the world.

I like cookie dough too. You are a huge inspiration to me and I loved your ted talk.

Thank you so much!! I eat a cookie dough ice cream cone every night. I really do!

i very like you, you're strong and you don't care about what we can think about you and i very like your personnality, i watch all your videos, i begin to be a fan ^, sorry for my english i'm french. well, my questions is: would you come in france one day?

I would love to go to France one day! It seems like an amazing and beautiful place.

Why do you think people bully? What's the best way to discourage bullying?

To discourage it?

I think we all have to remember that people bully others because they are hurting from something themselves.

And we always have to keep that in mind.

To discourage it... I think just knowing sometimes words can hurt more than actions. And you never know how hard something you say could hit someone. I think just being open-minded, and knowing that everyone has their own story, and taking that into consideration, before judging them or hurting them.

who are your favorite inspirational speakers?

Bill Rancik! Tina Meyer, and Nick Vujicic. He just had his first son with his wife, and they're expecting another.

that is really cool. how long did it take to make the movie?

It took a little over a year to shoot and edit and get it all done. In May of 2014 we started the crowdfunding campaign, on May 1st, and we went until May 30th. And we made our goal, we reached it a week early, and then we went into production a week after May 30th. The story came from the director Sara Bordo, myself, and Michael Campo.

As an Austin Native, how do you feel about premiering A Brave Heart at SXSW?

It is THE BIGGEST HONOR that I could ever ask for.

I can't picture our movie premiering anywhere else besides our hometown of Austin.

And the theater was packed! There was a huge line, I wish I could've seen it. Everyone just told me about it.

I saw the line. It was substantial.

What advice would you have for aspiring filmmakers looking to make their debut at SXSW next year?

I'm just the subject of the movie. And this is my first time going to SXSW. What a way to kick it off!

What is your response to the common claim that bullying "builds character" or "is just a part of growing up" or that people need to just "get over it"?

I don't agree with any of those.

I think that bullying is something we all unfortunately have to deal with. It's up to us how we allow it to affect us. Because I mean, I would never say it's something you just "have to get over" because you never could know how much it could affect someone's life.

It would be better if we could have plans of action when it happens, and resources for those who are affected.

How did you get into being a speaker? What made you decide to become one?

It came to me by accident.

When I was a sophomore in High school, our assistant principal asked me to speak to 400 9th graders, and I told her "no." And then she told me to think about it, and I did. And luckily I did it, and i knew right then and there that that was what I had to do the rest of my life.

My first speech was about my story, and the things that I've gone through, as far as bullying.

You could've heard a pin drop in the room. It was so quiet.

And then at the end - kids who were super-tough and seemed like they wouldn't show emotion couldn't even speak because they had tears in their eyes, and they were so touched by what I had to say.

After my first speech, I actually googled how to be a motivational speaker, and then I made an email address, and I emailed a bunch of random places, and said "If you need a speaker, I'm your girl."

I didn't include that I've only done one speech in my life. And I started using that to build my experience, until I started getting paid for it, which probably wasn't until 2 or 3 years later.

And the rest is history (to say the least).

How did you get the courage to give that first speech? I would have found that terrifying.

I went home and told my parents about the offer, and they encouraged me to do it, and said they would be in the front row cheering me on.

And they were!

Do you speak Spanish? If so, have you been to a Spanish-speaking country, and how was the experience?

Keep going, you are a great person, and ignore the haters! Keep vlogging, I'm a subscriber and I find your vids really interesting!

I don't speak Spanish, and I spoke to 10,000 people in a Spanish-speaking country. Luckily, there was a translator! There's not a video on YouTube, but you can see it in the movie A BRAVE HEART.

THANKS SO MUCH!!! YAY!!!! Thank you so much.

How do you prepare for your speeches.

I always tell myself - I first decide what I want my main message to be. And then I think of 3-4 main bullets. And then I just go from there.

I always have the same general outline, or plan, but then I adapt it to my audience.

Interesting.

And how do you remember what you plan to say?

Do you use notecards, a notebook, or just practice a lot beforehand?

Practicing actually makes me really nervous. If I overthink it, it doesn't come out as natural. So I'll write on anything - a napkin, whatever, and just remember the points that I want to get across, and then I go up onstage, speak from my heart, and everything just seems to fall into place.

Do people still bully you and/or say hurtful things and if so, how do you react to them today?

They do. I still see things online that are hurtful. But you have a choice, and you can take the high road, and not bully the bully back. It's so easy to fall into a trap of negativity. OR you make the choice to take the high road, and not bully the bully back.

How would you deal with bullying today? Like, how would you respond to it?

Hmmm.

How would I respond? I think... instead of saying something mean back, I would just acknowledge how I feel, and say something like "I'm sorry you feel that way" and then just maybe change the subject to something positive.

Do you like turtles?

Yeah! Why not? Who doesn't like turtles?

I just watched your TED talk video and I am amazed at how good you are at public speaking. Keep you the good work and happy birthday! What advice would you have for someone who has a negative view of themselves?

Tell them THANK YOU so very much! I used to have a very negative view on myself. And I realized that there's no other way that I could help anyone else, unless I learned to love myself first, from the inside out.

So I actually - did a "love yourself" list, and I wrote down everything I liked about myself, whether it was my personality, or my appearance, and I posted it in my bathroom, and I read it until I believed it. So anytime someone was negative to me, or I started comparing myself or doubting myself, I would remind myself of my list.

So try writing a list for yourself. And if you can't think of how to start, go up to someone and ask "what do you like about me?" And use that as a spark to inspire yours.

What do you think everyone should always keep in mind?

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

Just as you are!

how old are you?

I just turned 26 yesterday!

What is your favourite movie?

STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Can I just say - Sally Field is doing her panel TOMORROW right after me, in the same room!?!?! My panel is at 12:30 tomorrow at the Austin Convention Center!

Wow that's really cool. Sally Field is great. Good choice of movie :)

Yeah!!! She's the best!