2012 Year in Review: The Most Inspirational Stories of the Year

Once called "The World's Ugliest Woman," Lizzie Velasquez was born with a medical condition so rare that just two other people in the world are thought to have it: She weighs just 60 pounds and has no adipose tissue, and cannot create muscle, store energy, or gain weight. She inspired women the world over earlier this year when, during an interview with CNN, she said that people "should stop staring and start learning." Since then, she told Yahoo! Shine, she's been flooded with speaking requests and supportive emails. In 2013 she's hoping write her third book (her second, "Be Beautiful, Be You" came out in September), continue her work as a motivational speaker, and meet as many people as possible in 2013.

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Photo by: WKBT-TV
When WKBT-TV morning news anchor Jennifer Livingston got an email criticizing her for her weight, she fought back against the fat-shaming with an on-air editorial that had viewers cheering. "To all of the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling with your weight, with the color your skin, your sexual preference, your disability, even the acne on your face. Listen to me right now: Do not let your self-worth be defined... more
Photo by: WKBT-TV
When WKBT-TV morning news anchor Jennifer Livingston got an email criticizing her for her weight, she fought back against the fat-shaming with an on-air editorial that had viewers cheering. "To all of the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling with your weight, with the color your skin, your sexual preference, your disability, even the acne on your face. Listen to me right now: Do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies," she said. When the bully refused to back down, she continued to stand up to him. "What kind of message am I teaching her when my husband and I are talking about this mean email that I received and I'm not taking a stand for myself?" she said on NBC's "Today" show in October. "I can stand up for myself, there's a lot of people that can't. And I'm gonna do it." (Read her story: News Anchor Takes Fat-Shaming Bully To Task less