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How Will My Blind Date React To My Height? | DATING DIFFERENT
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May 29, 2025
Three confident ladies with one thing in common go on blind dates. Skylah Claire, 21, who has pseudoachondroplasia and stands 3ft 11", hasn’t had much dating experience and has struggled to find someone who looks beyond her condition. Now, she’s taking a brave step by going on her first blind date. Will she find a real spark? Model Abby Asani, born with spina bifida, has faced challenges in dating due to people fetishizing her appearance or doubting her ability to have a normal romantic life. She refuses to let those assumptions define her, saying, “I just have a disability, it’s not that serious.” Celia, 26, who has diastrophic dysplasia and stands 3ft 3", grew up shy about her size but has since found her confidence as a Spanish teacher. Ready to date, she’s stepping into the world with self-assurance, great hopes and an open heart. Love, like confidence, begins from within—and the right person will always see your light before your limits.
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0:00
I am bigger than my dwarfism
0:02
I'm 3-11-21 and looking for love. I got set up on a blind date today
0:07
I'm a little anxious just because I don't know what to expect
0:11
but I'm excited. He's looking at slight, but it's not looking good
0:16
I'm changing my background. My phone background has another guy on it
0:20
He's a guy I'm talking to. My name is Skyla Pinnell. I'm from Crossville, Tennessee
0:27
I'm 3-11-21 and looking for love. So today I'm going on my very first, to be honest, really my first date ever
0:35
but my first blind date. And, you know, obviously going on a date is nerve-wracking in itself
0:43
but going on a blind date is, you know, another story. I try to look my best every day, though, because, you know, as a little person
0:50
everyone's always staring at you. And so, you know, if they're going to stare at you
0:54
might as well give them something good to look at. I don't know if he knows I'm little, so that's the only thing that is getting me a little anxiety feeling, but I'm trying to be optimistic
1:05
I like somebody who is funny and smart, handsome and caring. I have a nerdy type, believe it or not
1:15
My name is Nathaniel. I'm from Clarkson, Tennessee. I'm 26 years old. Right now I'm a quality inspector. I kind of think I don't have a type, but then of course my friends, they can show me preferences
1:24
I guess like short girls, high energy, but then at the same time can relax
1:30
I'm feeling a little nervous because it's a blind date. I don't know anything about my date, actually
1:34
I really don't. It's as blind as blind can be. He's looking at slight, but this is not looking good
1:42
I'm changing my background. My phone background has another guy on it
1:46
He's a guy I'm talking to. And you can do it. Hi, how are you
1:52
How's it going, Wim? I'm Skyla. I'm eight. Nice to meet you
1:57
Is this your first blind date? Yes. Me too. This is wild
2:01
It's like, whew. A sign of a good first date is when they're asking me not just about my dwarfism, but about other things
2:09
They're trying to really get to know me. How old are you? 26. 26
2:13
You? I'm 21. Oh, okay. You live in Nashville? No, I live in Crossville
2:18
How about you? Clarksville. Oh, okay. Are you from Tennessee? Yeah. Yeah, pretty much Clarksville's been my home for eternity
2:25
Oh, yeah. Yeah. What do you like to do for fun? I do a lot of walking
2:30
I go to different parks, take pictures of nature. I love being outside, even though I play video games for hours on end
2:36
Oh, really? Yeah. What video games? Let's see. Right now, it's Dark Souls 3
2:41
Really? Yeah. My roadblood loves that game. Oh, yeah. He's played it like 10 times throughout the day
2:45
Yeah, most of my life has been invested in that. All right. What about you
2:51
I, too, play video games. Oh, what'd you play? I'm more of like simulation, so I like sims
2:56
I like survival, too, like seven days a day. All right. So what do you do for work
3:01
I'm actually a quality inspector. Like, I just started probably, like, two weeks ago
3:05
I just walk around, look at parts, make sure they're good. Like, what do you do
3:09
I'm studying psychology. Oh, really? Yeah, I just got my associate's degree
3:14
Oh, okay. Oh, you just finished. I remember in high school, like, that's what I loved, psychology
3:18
Yeah, being able to like study somebody by language and all that I was like super into it
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Then I was like, I don't know should I pursue it? I was just like Life happens so it was just didn't happen
3:30
Did you know at all that I was a little person before? No idea. No idea just Skyler. I was just like
3:37
That's all I know. So I have Pseudoachondroplasia is a disease of the bones that I'm born with and it deteriorates my bones over time
3:48
My mom is the first little person in my family and then I got it and now I have a little brother who also has it
3:54
I get a lot of staring. Definitely a lot more from little kids
3:58
You know, they'll be like, why does she look old but she's small? My dwarfism doesn't define who I am per se because I do have things that are more important than just my dwarfism
4:09
But it is part of everyday life. So I am, I think, good looking and attractive
4:15
But I will say it's harder for me to get somebody who's more genuine than it is for, like, you know, other reasons
4:23
So how do you feel about me being a little person? I mean, you're a person
4:27
Just shorter than the rest. Like, you're still a person. Like, regardless of, like, I don't have an issue
4:32
It doesn't hold you back from anything. I try not to let it, like, hold me back from anything
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But I do have, like, anxiety about it when it comes to certain things
4:42
The world is not built for little people. Every time I go to the store, me and my mom always joke
4:47
this is not little people friendly. You're just gonna own it. Like, I know what I am, this is what I got
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and the world's gonna deal with it. Yeah, exactly, that's how I think it. I'm like, if people are gonna judge me
4:57
then they're gonna judge me. I can't let that, like, hold me back. Yeah, exactly. Exactly
5:02
Thank you, I appreciate that, I really do. Do you mind if I use that for real quick? Go right in, go right in
5:06
Thank you. I'll be right back. How do you think it's going so far
5:10
The conversation is going good other than that he doesn't ask me much about myself
5:18
And he does go on a little bit. I think it is because he's nervous
5:22
First impressions, just something different, honestly. Like, going on a blind date, you don't know anything
5:27
It was just, like, surprise. I was like, oh, like, dwarfism. Surprise
5:31
I was like, okay. I don't see what the issue is. I was like, all right. Sorry about that
5:36
You're good. You're good. There's no rush. What are you looking for in a relationship
5:40
In a relationship I looking for somebody who likes to spend time with me who has future goals and is funny and smart and stuff like that
5:56
So, what about you? What are you looking for? I'm sure you've seen them. The old people in the parks
6:01
Oh yeah. Just chilling next to each other. That, that's gold right there
6:05
Like, you, me, that's it. Nobody else. But you're still together no matter what
6:10
Well, this has been fun. I've enjoyed getting to know you. Are you almost ready to get on now
6:18
Yeah, it's about the time. I'm glad I came. It was very fun and it went good
6:23
This made me feel better about dating because maybe some other people will have the same reaction
6:28
and be more accepting of my condition. What's the name of the guy that you were texting
6:33
No! I feel like you're making me look bad. I like Scarlett, but, yeah, there wasn't really any romantic feelings
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Did you guys have a good time? Yeah, I'd say so. Yeah, it was a pretty good time
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Did you feel any kind of romantic connection? I don't want to say no. I didn't either
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I think you're a really good friend. Right. So take care. Have a good trip on the way back
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Study hard. Thank you, I will. You have a good night. You too. Society thinks I don't go on dates or that I'm not intimate
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It's a little weird to me that people really think that. I just have a disability
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It's not that serious. All right, this is more my vibe, that's a little sexiness
7:18
Today I'm going on a blind date with a guy I know nothing about. The reason why I'm standing
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because it's like you can't tell I'm four feet tall when I'm sitting. So I'd rather get that awkwardness out
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I told you. I think there's a misunderstanding that a lot of people saying people
7:34
with disabilities don't date, which I think is stupid. The problem that I have with is trying
7:38
to figure out a man's true intention, because I think a lot of men have this fetish
7:44
of being with a smaller woman, which is ridiculous. I constantly hear men talk about
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oh, I've never been with a smaller woman. Like, oh, I don't care
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So that's really the annoying part. I have spina bifida, which is a birth defect
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Basically, it's an opening in the spine. When your spine is screwed up, so are all your other organs
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But it doesn't really faze me. I picked three outfits. Honestly, picking clothes is like, hell
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because nothing really fits me. I constantly have to get them either tailored
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and the thing about when you have like spina bifida, the torso is much shorter than the bottom of the body
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Today I'm going on a blind date with a guy I know nothing about, so this is great
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I'm very nervous, like I feel like I'm gonna throw up. And the reason why I'm standing
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because it's like, you can't tell I'm four feet tall when I'm sitting. So I'd rather get that awkwardness out
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so it's less awkward. My name's Kofi, I'm 21 years old, and I'm currently living in Boston, Massachusetts
8:52
What I look for in a partner, compatibility. I mean, somebody that I can probably
8:56
just have a great conversation with, somebody that can understand what I do, being a creative and everything
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and you know, vice versa, somebody that can pour something into me
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Hello, how are you? I'm good, how are you? I'm Abby. Abby, Kofi, nice to meet you
9:14
Who's there? This is exciting. It is! Are you from Boston? I am not from Boston
9:22
I studied at Berklee College of Music for a second. Took a break for a second. I'm trying to get back there
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But did dual studies at Harvard for a minute, too. How old are you? 21
9:32
How old is Bray? I'm literally, what the hell? No offense. I actually just started 29
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Oh, nice. I feel like very grand. Grand, why? Because I'm almost in 30s
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Oh, no, that's the best age I hear. What's your previous experience has been like
9:54
I think most men have a lot of, like, a fetish with smaller women. Okay, so talk to me about that then
10:00
I don't even know what to say. Is it, I don't even notice really anything different other than the height
10:06
Well, they have the fetish. That's the fetish. So what is your official height
10:11
Four feet. Four feet? Okay. Nice, nice, nice. These heels are an inch
10:16
Okay, I didn't even, okay, wow. You didn't notice? I didn't notice the heels. I'm sorry. Wow
10:21
That's a red flag. What's your first impression? He's very handsome and great smile, tall, which I like him tall
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And he's honestly very, very sweet. You can tell he's genuine. So honestly, he seems like a really genuine person, but I'm so thrown off that he's 21 and I can't get that out of my head
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But I'm trying real hard to look past that. So what are your thoughts on people with disabilities
10:51
People with disabilities? I have no thoughts on that, honestly. I really don't. I don't look for that
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So, I mean, my opinion is what you have considered a disability
11:02
Yes, I have spina bifida. Oh, okay. I didn't know what it was. Is that something you're born with
11:07
Yeah, it's a birth defect, so you're born with it. You just get lucky and it's like, ah, that's what you get
11:13
Growing up with spina bifida, honestly, it was difficult because there was a lot of bullying
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and I didn't understand, like, what was happening. It started as early as first grade, so I didn't really feel like I had the support I needed
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as a young child to reach out to someone for help or for guidance
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So what do you see in the next person or the individual you choose to try to look for
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The ideal person is someone who definitely done a lot of work on themselves and because I not coming in to save you We not doing that anymore
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So that's literally my ideal person. What's yours? Person? Somebody that's compatible
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Somebody that can... What is compatible for you? Well, doing music, being in the arts
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I feel like just somebody that can understand the work that goes into that, understanding my day-to-day is different
12:04
For work or career, what do you do? I work for an agency helping those who are on Section 8
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assisting them in low-income housing. That's what I do. But obviously my other side thing is modeling
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That's literally what I love and care about and passionate about. Honestly, being in front of the camera for me, it's very natural
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It doesn't feel awkward at all. It doesn't feel like I don't get nervous. I really took it serious, I would say, the past two years
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that I've really been doing the professional stuff and actually building my portfolio
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Modeling has helped me feel more comfortable within my skin and myself
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Thank you. Some muscle. Want a fry? Yeah. It's your zodiac sign
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Oh, my God. The zodiac sign question? I felt like that was coming
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I'm a Libra. What? What are you? Sorry. I'm a Libra. Wait, wait, wait
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Don't tell me your birthday. Did it already happen? It did. Oh, so you're September 29th
13:01
No. October 1st. Oh. I hate when I'm at North. Wait, it was just..
13:07
Yeah, it was Friday. Oh, happy birthday. So you just turned 29? No
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You're 28. This went pretty good. I mean, in my eyes, I really enjoyed, you know, talking to Abby and learning more about her
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and, you know, everything that kind of goes into being her. This was so fun
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I really enjoyed it. I had a great time. He definitely met my criteria
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He's tall and handsome. I don't know. Would I like to take her out on another date? I'm not opposed to considering that
13:35
I mean, I think she's a great person, but I think we'd probably be great friends and everything like that
13:39
I don't know about a romantic relationship or anything of that sort. I don't think he was bothered by my disability
13:45
This dated experience has taught me that you really have to be open-minded, especially when it comes to age
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I think we're just stuck on, like, well, they have to be a certain age to be mature. That's not the case
14:01
My name is Celia. I'm 27 years old. I was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia. My dwarfism
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did help me back a lot because I was shy and society can be cruel. My condition definitely
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does not define who I am. It's been almost four years since my last relationship. This
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is my first blind date. Hi, how's it going? Nice to meet you
14:27
So today I chose this outfit. It's a black jumpsuit. It's very comfortable and it's perfect
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for today's weather. I was probably six years old when I realized that I had this condition
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When I was a kid it was okay because I didn't really know much about it until I started to
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get older and I realized that other kids were growing and I was not so I started to see the
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differences. My dwarfism did help me back a lot because I was shy and society can be cruel
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and so it definitely held me back. I was very self-conscious but things have changed. You learn
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to embrace your condition and that's what I did. I mean I had no choice but to to do so. It was
15:16
either that or being completely depressed. I like to date someone with humor because that's how I am
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I have a good sense of humor and also someone who shows a lot of respect, someone who's educated and someone who is not afraid of what other people think, because that's definitely something that I look for
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I just want to make sure that I'm not uncomfortable or that they're not uncomfortable when we're dating
15:43
Paul Ellison Jr., military brat, was around a lot. I've been in California for 16 years now
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Now I work as a police officer and actor. I don't really have any expectations
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I just want to go in pretty open and blank. So if I don't expect anything, I can't
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Nothing can go wrong. Hi, how's it going? Nice to meet you
16:09
Celia. What's your name? Celia. Celia. Oh, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you
16:14
How are you? I'm having a lemonade. It's good? Yeah. So how old are you
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I don't mind me asking. 30. 30. How old are you? I'm 27
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Almost 28. Okay. Yeah. That's not too far. No, not at all
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Are you going to want something to drink? Yeah, yeah. I'll probably get something like that
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That's pretty good. Yeah. Have you ever been on a blind date? No, I've never been on a blind date
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That's not good. Have you? Me neither. No. No. So when was the last time you dated someone
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Like actual relationship? It was a year. Mm-hmm. But it was a really long relationship
16:46
Oh, okay. Okay. It was like a nine-year relationship. Oh, wow. Yeah
16:51
That's a long time. Yeah. Wow. What about you? Let's see, my last one was like four years ago
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And that lasted two years, roughly two years. Normally when I go on a date with someone, I make sure beforehand that it's someone that is okay with my condition
17:08
I let them know ahead of time that I'm a little person just to make sure that they don't insult me or they don't say anything that's going to be disrespectful towards me
17:18
But it has happened. It did happen once. where I went on a date and the guy did not know that I was a little person
17:25
He had seen my pictures but he never got to see a full body And so when I showed up he was quite surprised and he was comparing me to his little niece And of course I felt disrespected and walked away
17:38
What do you do for work? I'm a teacher. Teacher? Yeah, middle school
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Oh, you teach all grades in middle school? Yeah, all grades. Started as a substitute and then I went into teaching high school
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So I taught high school for a year. Yeah. Then I decided to go into a master's program
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and that's when COVID hit. Oh, yeah. And so throughout the whole master's program
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I was in grad school. So I was doing my student teaching while also working from home
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Literally, I did not leave my home at all. You speak Spanish? Yeah
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What's your ethnicity? I'm Mexican. Mexican? Yeah, I grew up in Mexico
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Oh, so you were born there? Yes. What part? Guadalajara. Well, four hours away from Guadalajara
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Oh, you can teach me Spanish. Yeah. That's what I do. So tell me about you. What do you do
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I'm a police officer in San Francisco. Nice. And I also act part-time
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Okay. I think if they're in policing, you can't let that become your whole life
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It'll just ruin your life. You have to have hobbies and have to have friends and stuff outside of that environment
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So acting's a good way for me to get out of that. Let's go. Okay, I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back
18:53
All right. I think he's going pretty well so far. He's a very nice guy, easy to talk to. He's good looking
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I like his smile. I was a little scared about how that was going to go, but yeah, it's easy
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I want to know how he feels about dating a little person and what his thoughts are on my condition
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Just so I know that he's comfortable. Hey. Hey. Oh, slippery. How's the lemonade
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It's good. Not too sweet. Oh thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. That's good. That's really good
19:39
So I probably should ask your condition and like it's the proper terminology because I don't know
19:47
anything? No, it's okay. It's called diastrophic dysplasia. Can you say that one more time
19:54
Diastrophic. Diastrophic? Diastrophic. Diastrophic? Uh-huh. Dysplasia. Dysplasia. Yeah. So it's a rare
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type of dwarfism. I mean, as you can see, I'm proportionate. It's just on my legs and my arms
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are shorter. Yeah. But besides that, I mean, I'm able to do just about everything. Yeah. With the
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help of my friend, the step stool and other things. Having dwarfism has shaped my complete life
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It's something that you cannot hide, of course. And so learning to live with this condition is
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not easy for sure. So having to learn to adapt in so many ways, I always think that the world
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is not made for someone with my condition, but I've had to learn how to live in this world
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The issue really is with people staring and all of that. So the attention, the amount of attention that I get, that is something that you should be aware about
20:55
I think I've learned to just block it. But when I'm with someone, for example, the other day I went out with my friend and I hadn't seen her in a while
21:06
and we went to a makeup store and i noticed that she was standing like really close to me and really
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close to me she's doing she was trying to block me from a kid that was staring at me for a while
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and i hadn't noticed the kid a while ago but i was just annoying them right but she was like i forgot
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what this was like she's like they won't stop staring kids gotta be the worst right kids but
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You'd be surprised. Adults, too. And I think with kids, I don't get upset as much because their kids are curious
21:39
But when an adult is doing that, that's when I get upset
21:43
You have all this attention on you all the time. As a kid, it must have been rough
21:50
You face bullying in three years, elementary, middle school, and high school
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When so many people are saying things to you or staring, They make you feel like you're some kind of alien
22:06
And you just don't understand. As much as you're trying to get it in your head that you're okay, that you're beautiful and this and that
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it's hard to get past those comments and it's hard to not let it hurt you
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Did you have a good time? Yeah, I had a good time. Great meeting you. Nice meeting you
22:24
Yeah. Ready to get out of here? Yes. Can I give you a hug? Yes, of course
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So how did the date go? It was good. It was good
22:39
I've had a few dates. I would say this is top tier. She was passionate about teaching and she had a real kind art that I like
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And that's the one I like people I like to surround myself with. I feel really good
22:54
I had a good time. I thought it was going to be awkward having a camera while having a date
22:59
But she was great. He's a nice person, very humble, and I really like that about him
23:05
Will we see each other again? Yes, yes, we will see each other again
23:09
I can let you for myself, yeah. Yeah, I think so. I think we'll see each other again
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