My name is Leandra, but I like to be known as Contessa Leandra because someday I am going to be a fabulously wealthy Contessa that owns Villa Falconara in Sicily and throws wonderful Masquerade parties and saves the world with humanitarian aide! (Hey, I can dream.) I’m also very interested in fashion and make-up and hairstyles. I love Victorian Era clothing, anything vintage, frilly, bright colors.
I wanted to know this: How tall are you? I ask this because I’m super short! 5ft-5’1″ – somewhere in between there. And though I love fashion and dressing up and all that, models are supposed to be tall! It’s hard for me to think that anyone could ever take me seriously if I always dressed up fashionably as a Contessa, because I’m just a little… midget person. Granted, Japanese girls are all very short and stylish, but I live in America, not Japan, and all my friends are at least a head taller than me. I don’t exactly want to pursue a career in fashion; I love making comics and geology/volcanoes, but I do like to be dressed well. If you’ve done just fine for yourself in fashion and you’re as short as I am, maybe I have hope after all?
~Contessa Leandra
Dear Contessa,
To answer your big question: I am the tallest in the family. I measure an inch higher than my mom and am a behemoth compared to my sister. I’m 5’2″.
When I got your email, I immediately thought of my sister Kat who, at the towering height of 4’11″ and aged 23, is the shortest person I know. This post is largely due to her input and wisdom – thanks, Kat!
Stuck in a sizable line at the Russian Consulate last week, Kat confided a story of recently getting videotaped by a co-worker. Although it’s always humbling to see yourself on video and hear yourself talk, the one thing that shocked her the most was how little she was compared to everybody else. She realized that she’ll be forever known as “the short girl”. In spite of this, she says she doesn’t worry about her height too much. I see her wear flats all the time, and it goes without saying that she is quite fashionable.
It seems, we shorties spend more time stressing over our height than anyone else. When we see a very tall person – and tall people are often as insecure about their height as we are, believe it or not – the only conclusion we make about them is that they are vertically longer. Although physical size is the first thing we notice, it ceases to play a significant role once we get to know the person better. If you had a childhood friend that was a few pounds overweight, I doubt the one thing you’ll remember is that you “once had a chunky friend.” :)
To prove to you that being a midget is actually awesome, Kat and I compiled a list of advantages us micro-humans have over the average-sized folk (Told you I take your letters seriously.):
- We are lovable!
Shorter people are perceived as non-threatening, so people are nicer to us – because nobody wants to be mean to a midget! We subconsciously remind them of children, so people are more willing to help (the downside of this can be patronizing – but we’ll get to that later). In addition, adult bullies prefer to bully adults, so we encounter fewer meanies along the way.
- We are a child’s best friend
Children immediately see a potential friend in shorter people, and open up more easily. If you work with kids, being tiny can be a big benefit!
- We can alter clothes like whoa!
It’s easier to make small out of a large. So next time you see a dress on sale that’s 2 sizes too big, use the money you save to get it tailored – or fix it yourself, if you’re good enough.
- We are instant girlfriend material
Tall women often have problems finding a suitably-sized guy, but a teensy-weensy girl won’t. Guys are helpless against our shorty charms because it makes them feel more protective. They cherish their petite lady friends forever!
- We are cute
Pint-sized humans are automatically cuter; there’s no arguing about that. We can pull off the kawaii look like no one else! So laugh and rejoice at your own microscopic proportions! :D
- We don’t sell ourselves short
Historically, people below average height have been known to be more ambitious and driven to succeed (aka, the Napoleon Syndrome). We might sometimes get the short end of the stick, but we sure don’t like to sell ourselves short!
Despite their diminutive statue, all these folks ended up larger than life: Joan of Arc (4’11″), Prince (5’2 1/2″), Christina Aguilera (5’2″), Madonna (5’4″), Ludwig Van Beethoven (5’3″).
Most fashion models are tall, but not all of them. Just look at Mosh rocking the 5’3″!
- We get the best shoes (the #1 overlooked benefit!)
The greatest thing about being a peanut-sized package of girly delight is that we tend to have smaller feet. Hello, cute shoes!
Not many Lilliputians are aware of this, but every Giant I’ve ever met complained about the same belittling experience they have whilst shoe-shopping: a size 7 looks cute as a button on display; but when presented with the size 11 equivalent, they want to run and hide! Shoes look prettier in smaller sizes – besides, have you tried hiding in a crowd of people when you’re 5’10″?
When it came to heels, Kat and I saw it differently. Kat says thick platforms and painfully high heels can make a shorter girl look desperate. Me, I can’t count the times when I’ve successfully ‘fooled’ people into thinking I’m taller just by wearing them! Whoa, you look so much shorter than I remember. – That’s because I was wearing big shoes last time. :)
To keep it short and sweet: there are advantages and disadvantages to any height. But in the end, it’s what you say and what you do that stays with people. If you are vertically challenged and worry about not being taken seriously, Kat suggests carrying yourself confidently, speaking intelligently, dressing appropriately & making sure all your clothes have a good fit. Most importantly, hold your head up high and don’t let your shortness get in the way of your grandeur! :)
Deerlings: how has your height affected you, positively or negatively, in life?
Shorties rock out. I’m 4’11 3/4″ and I played tuba in my high school marching band. I’m 23 now and while being a tiny little young-looking thing definitely is a disadvantage when trying to get people to take you seriously, I’ve found all of the benefits you mentioned, Xenia, and many more. (Including that large crowds are no match for us – while bigger people have to just stand there and wait to move, or shove through, shorties can just duck and run under people!) And I still love me some platforms. ^_^
I’m 5’6″, and, to tell the truth, I’m not a huge fan of my height. I feel like I got the proverbial short end of the stick: while I have really long arms and legs, my proportions are those of a much smaller girl (I’ve literally worn the same size since the fourth grade, though I’ve grown about a foot since then), so finding pants that are not only the proper size in the waist and hips, but that are also long enough, is super-difficult. And don’t even get me started on shoes– finding my size (10.5 AAA) is nearly impossible! If I were a few inches taller, I could give modelling a shot– and if I were a few inches shorter, I would be cute and petite. As it is, I just feel a little awkward.
I’m 5’10″. Not all tall girls have trouble getting dates and boyfriends. As long as you’re confident, take care of yourself, and have something to offer, you won’t be lonely in life. Not all guys like the “I’m so tiny and cute and helpless, take care of me” vibe. And Napoleon Bonaparte had an inferiority complex about his height, if I’m not mistaken.
I’m 5’5″, although most can’t tell because I’m always in heels! Not a height conscious thing by any means, I just prefer wearing them, and at a UK sz 7, I tend to walk the line (geddit?) in round or square toe’d 3 – 5 inch heels, usually with an inch platform, again, pure aesthetics, than to conform to a general view on how I should wear heels. I have an hourglass shape, and even with me being slightly overweight, I have great curves that match my height!
My (younger) sister is completely different. Even after 2 kids, she is still a skinny (not-so-)minnie! She’s 5’11″ and very long limbed with strong features, and, rather fabulously, utterly refuses to not wear the highest heels she can find! It makes for a bigger shoe collection, we wear the same size!
I love being quite small, and most of my male friend (and my boyf) are taller than me in heels, so I get the whole protective thing, even though I am an independent woman I just love pulling the ‘lil ole helpless me!’ routine form time to time! My sister is the ‘I am Woman – hear me roar!’ type, and her stature and personality are also reflected in the choices she makes in fashion.
I believe this though, even if my sister were tinier, she’d still walk around, head held high, as if she were 7 foot tall. Me? I like the weather at this height :D
I am somewhere between 6’2 and 6’4,
and this article made me sad! lol. I think now to please all the tall people, you should write a post on the benefits of tall people.
ahh. who am I kidding. we’re the minority.
Most guys are intimidated by me and it’s hard to find a guy who is as tall/taller. And dating a guy shorter than me is just weired.
The only plus to my vertical situation would probably be that it would be pretty easy to get myself into modeling, solely based on my height. I should definately go get some tfp’s soon. : ]
Ah! Short people are not midgets. Most of us are proportioned normally while “midgets” (who actually prefer to be called ‘little people’) have unusually short limbs and medical issues related to their size.
I really hate to get all ranty here, I like this site a lot. Being 5′ tall, I get rather tired of people asking me if I’m a midget/dwarf/13 years old. I forget that I’m small, it doesn’t really hinder my daily life. If I can’t reach, I climb. If I want to wear flats, I wear them. Tea length skirts? Heck yeah.
Height is the last thing on my mind, except when someone reminds me and treats me like a freakshow because of it.
Ladies, tall, short and in between – go forth and be fabulous.
i’m 5’11 and I’m pretty happy with my length but it’s not always fun! as you said it’s reaaaaly hard to find a guy that you don’t have to bend to hear ;] moreover I tend to hit my head with lamps and other hanging objects and most of the furniture is made for smaller people, so during my lectures on on the plane it’s really hard to find some place to put your legs. also all of my friends are smaller which makes me a giant when I walk with them. I love heals but sometimes I just feel so stupid while walking on them.
but I think that in this case size doesn’t matter as long as you’re confident you’ll always get in the centre of attention no matter how long/short you are!
xxx
Love this entry! I am tiny and proud of it. I am always the most petit person in a group and people always amazed about the fact how tiny I am. “You seem so much taller ´cause of your big personality!” I dont even always remember that I am tiny – only when I try to find clothing. xP It sucks. I am so womanly with my figure so childrens clothing wont fit and adults ones are too big from some parts. I try to fix them myself but I dont have a time or skills to do it always. It is easier to use skirts cause I just cant find fitting jeans, never!
I dunno about the inch system but with cm I am 1m49(and a half! My doctor felt sorry for me and put 150cm on my files xDDD).
Love your blog! Greetings from snowy Finland!
I’m 5’1″ approx, 17years old and don’t think I’m growing anymore! Hah :) I’m the shortest in the family, although not the youngest =/
I’ve always been teased about my height, ever since …around I was in year7/8 ? But it never really bothered me that much cos it’s true that guys DO think shorties are cuter! :D Hah…
However, the big downside of this is that my feet are a little TOO small. I’m size 5/5.5 and the smallest sizes in most shoe stores at 6! So it’s extremely hard for me to find heels that work =/ Nearly all my shoes are a size bigger, thus requiring it to be flat and have lace or something ..
It DOES annoy me sometimes that my legs look incredibly short in certain clothes ..but I don’t let it affect me that much :)
THANKS for the awesome post Doe !! Being short is stressful sometimes, but I’m glad I’m not a giant (:
I love how you make a whole post when someone writes you a letter!
If I calculated correctly Im 5’8 (173 cm) which is quit normal here in The Netherlands. I’m not the tallest person here, but I’m not the smallest either, just average. I like my height :) and I’ve tiny feet too, yay
I’m 5’9, and my boyfriend is 5’5. To be honest, this hasn’t been much of a problem, because height doesn’t matter lying down!
I’m 5″4… a lot of people say I’m short. It used to annoy me, but for all the reasons that Doe mentioned, it’s not a problem to me anymore =)
I like having tiny feet… and it doesn’t effect my fashion choices too much.
I wear platforms and crazy heels not to be taller… but just because I like them. I try not to worry about my height because it’s something I can’t really change.
I’m 5’3, and I love it! I’ve always loved to be smaller than most people. I am the shortest person in my family.. my grandmother was 5’11 in her prime… and was also recruited by Ford model, but, she went to Syracuse University instead. Education lasts longer than young beauty.
So you know how Tyra Banks is all about getting the plus size women recognized as top models… (which i think is awesome!) but what about us short ladies!?
We should all write to her. haha
<3
Aw. :( I don’t like the way you’ve written this at all. I’m sure it made a lot of short people cheer up, but I’m 6ft2.
So kids are dead afraid of me?
I’m not lovable?
I’m not cute?
I’m not girlfriend material?
I’ll have horrible trouble finding clothes and shoes I like?
This post poked a finger in a lot of old wounds. :(
Im 5″8 which I wouldn’t consider to be very tall but every one else seems to think I’m huge! A lot of people of school picked up on it and I used to be really self concious about it when I was younger. Now I wear heels all and the time and I don’t care if I’m literaly a head above everyone else! (I guess people are just short where I live) Clothes look anything but cute on me but I don’t care, being cute is definatly not my personality, I’m much more strongwilled and I certainly don’t need a man to protect me!! (fenimist perhaps?)
However finding clothes can be difficult as I have a short torso and long legs and I wear a 36″ leg length! The worst thing though has got to be shoes, I’m a size 10 and they always look monstorous!
I have all the same problems! I’m 5’2 too :) In some ways I love being small but in others I really don’t like it at times.
I’m definitely the smallest of all of my friends, although some of them are only around an inch taller than me I still get called the ‘tiny one.’ I agree with a lot of your points though, especially about finding a boyfriend! My best friend is 5’9 and she finds it very hard to meet guys because they seem intimated by her size or want more petite girls.
I must disagree about having tiny feet though, I’m a British size 4 which is really common and other tiny footed people take the shoes! But on the plus side you can always wear hugeee platforms
:D
and i completely agree about mini models! :)
xo
I’m 6’1. And im only 15.
I was always the tallest kid in all of my classes and it lead me to be really insecure in my earlier youth. I never wore heels, or did anything to accentuate my height because i found it embarassing to be that tall. So then i tried modelling, because thats what tall girls are supposed to do right? Anyway that didn’t work out either, because i’m a curvy girl too. In the end ive come to accept my different body shape, and love what i have, because thats the way my body is and i can’t change it, even at times when people make me want to.
@carmen and all the other tall girls who are afraid to intimidate the guys around them :)
i found that the average american man is indeed a lot shorter than the average mid-european dude . so don’t get stressed out over your height, come on over and see for yourselves that actually, 5´8 is not so tall at all :) i’m 5,6 and think i am about average height, maybe a little short . so it’s all a matter of perspective …
(btw my boyfriend is 6´5, so is one of my best friends. and his brother. there are a lot of tall men around here , thank god ^^ … don’t give up, girls! :))
I’m sixteen and bearly 5 feet tall. I used to completely hate being shorter than everybody. There is possibly nothing more embarassing than having your friends scream your name in a store because you’re too short to be seen over the clothing racks. Also, I’ve never been able to buy a pair of pants that didn’t need to be shortened significantly.
However, recently I’ve come to love my height. I’ve started seeing this really cool guy who happens to be 6 foot. I’m sure that every petite girl will agree when I say hugging tall guys is nothing short of awesome.
Also, the grocery store thing is totally true. I can’t count how many times I’ve used the doe-eyed approach to asking a cute stranger to get something off a high shelf.
I can’t decide on the high heels issue though. I love wearing heels, but with my age and height, heels just look silly on me. I look like a little kid playing dress up with her mom’s clothes. :[
Although studies have shown that every inch of height adds some amount of average salary that a person will make in their lives (this was in one of Malcolm Gladwell’s books), I’ve met people shorter than me (4’11″) and they’re fine and have good jobs! I have to say it makes me happy to be not the shortest person around, although I also feel a little guilty when I’m taller than someone else!
Hello! :)
I’m about 5’4″, so I’m not really short but I do feel so sometimes. Most of my classmates seem so big to me! I love being my height and I was really full of glee when my mother told me that she thought I wouldn’t grow anymore. I really want to stay that tall.
And I, once again, absolutely adore your article! You’re really great, I love your blogazine! <3
Vanessa <3
i’m 5’1″ and i love my height! like you mentioned, it makes shoes and clothes a breeze (size 5-6 shoe) , and small is totally cute. it used to bother me, but the benefits were too numerous to ignore.
I’m also the tallest female of my mom’s side of the family at a towering… 5’2, heheheh.
In the household I currently live in it’s 5’2 me and my 6’2 spouse, then the 4’8 female and her 6’6 spouse.
Needless to say our group is generally tiny females and large mutant men. They lumber as we scurry about like mice. It’s like a fairy tale.
Growing up I never liked the idea of a tall guy, always feeling that if I had to hug him around the waste I’d get some weird “this is how I used to hug my dad” feeling. And I always did when I had tall male friends. But after my lovely discovery of my tall spouse-creature I adore his height. I can climb him. Literally. He’s very sturdy.
I’ve found that people like having small friends because it makes them feel larger and move substantial, along with the animalistic feel of protector. When you’re around a small person you know that if anything happens to them you can help, because you can (more likely than not) simply carry them to safety!
I do wish that I were a tad shorter though, an even five feet. And I’m the only short person I know that’s proportioned correctly. All the others I know have short legs or torso or something, where as I look like a normal person, just smaller! Except my feet. My spouse says that I’m like an overactive wallaby with kangaroo feet. Being as active as I am, I need kangaroo feet to go faster and harder, and if I had wallaby feet I wouldn’t be able to do as much.
He’s a tad strange, it didn’t make much sense to me either, don’t worry. *grins*
Anyway, all that to say. I enjoy being short. My best friend a bit ago was 6’2 and female. Had the hardest time finding a guy, like you said. Or pants that fit.
I’m a “normal” 5″6, I’ve been told I’m curvy, I have a 32F bust and lovely small size 4.5 feet. I’d just like to admit to Contessa and all your other lovely ladies that I was extremely concious about my height for a very long time. I belived myself to be way to tall, and that an acceptable height for a pretty, intelligent girl was no more that 5″3. I envy petite girls becuase they can get away with anything, really. I’ve also had/have alot of other problems with the way I see myself, but I just wanted to let all the shorties know, you are all beautiful, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! x
I’m 5’2″, and I feel so much better about being short now. :) I do have big feet for a short girl, though – I’m a size 9. :( But other than that, I don’t let being short stop me!
Cute post, but I stand at a very tall 5’10″ and I’ve never found finding a boyfriend hard. All my boyfriends have been same height/shorter than me and say they love my tall appearance and “model like legs.”
Plus I can be cute! Not only that I can be sexy and model-like.
And I always manage to find amazing clothes and shoes – plus I get to wear all the gorgeous clothes in the tall section of TopShop.
Although I love this website – POWER TO THE TALL PEOPLE!
I’m 5’8″ and have been since I was 12. I felt very weird in middle school when I was several inches taller than my classmates. Now that I’m in my 20′s, it’s only an issue when I’m buying pants and looking for a 34 inch inseam.
My boyfriend is an inch shorter than me, which didn’t bother me at all, but he felt a little weird about it in the beginning of our relationship. I used to avoid wearing heels with him, but now he kind of likes it when I wear heels and look like I’m 6 feet tall. A guy once came up to us when I was wearing heels and told my boyfriend that he must have “mad skills in bed” to keep such a tall girl around!
I feel like there is a lot of height hate toward taller girls in this post. Just because you are taller, doesn’t mean guys will like you less. Shouldn’t you be encouraging girls to feel comfortable with themselves no matter what their height and not just the shorter ones?
I’m 6ft tall and an avid reader of your blog but this post made me very sad.
Anya no hate towards tall girls from over here. My best friend is just over 6ft. Been a constant source of amusement when we see ourselves walking together. Tall girls rock too. They’re handy too when shopping at you need to reach the things on the top shelf. lol
Aww you guys, it’s only in good fun. :) I love tall girls! There are clearly lots of advantages to being tall – being able to reach tall shelves, see everyone in a crowd, and long legs being just a small part of it!
And in the good ole’ want-what-you-can’t-have tradition, there are days when I desperately wish I was even a few inches taller! True, true. ;)
I agree with the other tall girls in this post – I’m tall myself, and this post if offending and saddening to me. Even if you don’t mean to hate on taller girls, I do feel like you’re making it seem like shorter and more petite girls are more appealing to men and somehow ‘better’ in general.
Yep, I have big ol feet and maybe I can’t wear the cutest shoes and some guys ARE intimidated by my height or don’t like me because I’m taller than them, and somehow I’mless cute and loveable than a short girl.
=/
I find this post really rude for those of us girls who are tall, especially those who are self conscious about being tall.
“Contessa” Leandra Marshall (who has no contessa blood in her body unlike me) just became involved with this blog to piss me off. She is a horrible person that looks to cause unhappiness for those she is finished using at every opportunity. She obviously discovered you from spying on my myspace page and seeing who my top friends are!
But in spite of the nausea caused by my backstabbing ex-friend I actually liked your response! I’m 5’3″ and wear a size 7.5-8 shoe. I always wanted to be taller. 5’6″ in my mind was the ideal height and I was devastated I wasn’t going to reach it. Now I’m 19 and will just have to live with 5’3″ but right now I’m feeling really good about that!
Thank you Xenia for turning my pain into a lovely new perspective! <3
Suzanne C. Reply:
October 12, 2009 at 6:38 am
Also Leandra goes up to my cheekbones when we were barefoot and I’m 5’3″ so she can’t be taller than 5’0″ so it’s quite apparant to those who know her she is LYING! I don’t know why she’d feel the need to lie but the girl is miniscule. I have freakisly tiny hands but mine look like those of a giant beside hers. I’m still sickened by this whole thing.
What I wouldn’t give to be short!
I’m 5ft 11 barefoot, and about 6ft 3 in my favourite heels and unfortunately even before I put my shoes on I tower over my 5ft 7 boyfriend. I can’t shop in many stores because I have a 35inch inside leg and most places consider 33inch to be their extra long, and with a UKsize 10 feet (I think thats a US12) I have to special order shoes made for transvestites if I want anything pretty!
I’m a photographer (alternative mainly) and I can honestly say I have only ever photographed three models of the hundred or so I’ve worked who were near my height, two who were the same height and one who was 6ft.
However, I have to admit I also love being tall. I actually wish I could say I was an even 6ft! If you ever want a blog for the otherside of things, about being an ordinary tall girl I’d love to contribute because I think the other side of height needs to be applauded too!
[...] It’s time to embrace your shortness! For the record, I’m 5’3 [...]
Im only 4’7 and as I’m 16 I was told I’m not gonna grow any taller; but to be honest, I couldn’t be happier. Being small is one of my traits and it makes people take an interest. It makes you unique; and so many people gush about how much cuter clothes/shoes/even hairstyles look on you compared to them. When I was younger, I hated being small; but now I adore being the pixie of the group =]
x
I love this post!
I’m 5’3″ and the shortest in my family. I used to hate it but now I do like being shorter. Most people think I’m taller than I am though because of the way I carry myself, and that I wear big shoes when I can :) My fiance is 6’1″ though so sometimes I think we look like an odd couple hah!
I’m 5 foot 2 on a good day and I love it.
But sometimes being tiny is not all roses:
1- I’m often forced to shop in the childrens section since not many places where I live carry petites…which can be embarrassing…but it also means i fit into the smaller sizes of gothic lolita brands with ease :)(my mom even calls me Thumbelina)
2- trying to find a cute 32c bra is near impossible.
3- I’ve actually had friends play catch with me. this has happened more than once.(somehow tiny = ragdoll i guess)
4- I’ve actually had people walk up and make rude comments about the height diff between me and my bf (he is 6’4)
But despite little annoyances I’ve come to embrace my height and all the cute that comes with it
I’m a solid 5’0″ (just like Mama!!) and I’ve learned to LOVE it! I was always the short one, and still am =] But now that I’m 16 and clever (hmm…) I’ve realised that I must surely be the envy of all my friends! I get away with SO much, just because I look like a kid =] I get to act like a 5 year old (although, I often get treated like one..)
My boyfriend (bless his lovely, little heart) adores my tiny little frame, bearing in mind I rarely exercise, wax my legs and I eat like there’s no tomorrow sometimes. Somehow he just thinks I’m the cutest =] It’s great!!
Plus, I get to wear all the girly, cutesy apparel, but I can also wear the more sophisticated, sexy stuff. Or even mix them up!! =D
I don’t know…personally I love being tall. I can see over everyone in a crowd, I don’t need help reaching things on the top shelf, and i don’t have to take as many steps when I’m walking somewhere ;)
I’m the same height as your sister, 4’11″, and my fiance is 6’5″. We get stared at a lot, and I am often asked how we “make things work”.
I like being small, it only gets difficult when I have to reach things on high shelves at home or in stores or whatever.
Oh, and PANTS, I have the worst time finding pants that are the right length!
I probably am a 27″ inseam, but the shortest I can find is 29″, even in the petites section of most stores.
I am 5’11, and trust me, the “Instant Girlfriend Material” thing doesn’t just apply to my bite-sized friends. Although men like the ability to protect their significant other, my fiancee likes that I’m a measly inch shorter than him, because I am shaped like Poena when I wear his favorite 3 inch heels.
I suppose being tall can be inconvenient at times, but tall, slender, and curvaceous are well-loved qualities in fashion.
I’m one of the shortest in my family at 5’2″, and despite some teasing in the past, I can honestly say that the only thing that bothers me is when someone mistakes me for being a teenager. (I’m in my late-20s!) I think that being petite can give us the motivation to stand up for ourselves and put just that much more effort into being “bigger” in other ways.
I’m 5’4″, and while I wouldn’t mind being taller (I modelled a bit professionally on a whim as a teen but never could break out of the teen catalog circuit at that height, so it would have been helpful then!) but now I don’t mind at all.
I do have the issue where clothes do make me look stumpy (I’ve gained some weight) and when I do find Petite jackets, etc, it’s amazing how much nicer they look!! I always have to hem my jeans, as well.
Between the way I dress & my height, little kids often don’t register me as a “grown up” which is totally great.
P.S. I totally don’t think this post is hating on tall people!! The media feeds us CONSTANT streams of “be tall, be tall!” so a counter-opinion is needed!!
I’m glad to hear comments from tall people that are postive, because I feel bad about my height of 5’6″, especially around guys. I love to wear heels (most are 2 or 3 inches), so I’m usually even taller.
Honestly, I’d like to have a guy taller than me, but if I found a great guy who was shorter and didn’t mind, and made me feel comfortable enough to wear my heels around him, then more power to him :D The height wouldn’t matter anymore then.
Aside from that personally major issue, I think my height is pretty cool.
what a wonderful post! thank-you!
standing at 5’2″ i agree with you on some of the points. i am constantly called cute and people tell me i can never look violent or menancing as much as i think i can :p my feet are extremely small, so it’s extremely difficult to find shoes- i’m always needing to add padding. people always think i am younger than i am. :p sometimes my parents tell me i should wear heels but i’m not comfortable in them- go flats! teehee~
Great post Doe! I’m 5′ nothing and in addition I’m a belly dancer, so what I get to find most gleeful about the situation is when I get off the stage and people go, “wait a minute, she looked much taller a second ago…”
It’s all about presentation and confidence, no one ever sees me dance and thinks that I’m a shortie. Plus I dance barefoot! I do wear high heels all the time, and am famous in my group of friends for having more than anyone else put together, but for me when I carry myself in a certain way people don’t notice I’m short. It doesn’t matter if I’m wearing heels at the time or not usually. I did used to get the, “wow you’re short!” comment when I first met people, but it changed when I was more confident and carried myself better. Now usually I’m the one to make a crack about my height first.
Also–I never have to take my own luggage out of the overhead bin on planes!
I don’t think height is much of a problem for women as it is with men! Tom Cruise is 5’4″ and I watched a Canadian documentary called S&M, Short and Male and it was interesting. It talked about how men had to be a certain height in order to drive or even apply for a job in some countries! Sometimes it also makes a man have to overcompensate in their manly behaviours to make up for their height :( Here is a link to the documentary;
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20080506/shortandmale/20080506/
I am 5’5″. 5’3″ is considered an average height for women. I think short girls are so cute! Tall girls have beautiful legs! Embrace your height :)
I found a link on youtube hehe about the S&M: Short and Male documentary :)
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=uRCQJO77U3I