A 3-foot-8-year-old woman with dwarfism is mistaken for her boyfriend's 5-foot-8 sister, but says she doesn't care what other people say.
Caitlin Hellyer, 23, has achondroplasia dwarfism, a bone growth disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the arms and legs.
She says she gets attention when she goes out with her boyfriend Guy Pritchard, 33, who is 5ft 8in tall.
Caitlin, from the Forest of Dean, UK, said the couple was stared at, laughed at and even questioned whether their love was real.
However, Caitlin said their two-and-a-half year relationship is just like any other, and they even joke about their differences.
Glamor model Caitlin said:
“We are sometimes stared at and photographed. I was once mistaken for a child.
“Sometimes people think I’m his brother, but guess what, I’m a 23-year-old woman with boobs.
“You hear people laughing, you get nasty comments online, people don’t understand it, but we don’t care what other people say.
“Guy is a man of his word and a very loyal person. I'm the happiest I've ever been. I feel safe and protected.
“Genuine relationships can occur despite differences in height and ability. Being shallow will only limit your ability to find true love.”
Guy, a marine engineer, said: “I'm a strong person and very open about my love for Kaitlyn and who she is.
“We love each other so much that we don't need to follow a set path to prove it to anyone.”
The couple met in May 2022 after talking online for several weeks.
Eventually, they hit it off and “we stayed up until 3 a.m. just chatting.”
They moved in together just two months later.
she said: “I give him things from the low shelves in the pantry, but he takes things from the high cupboards.
“His Land Rover was too high for me to ride in, so he had to lift me up. We always joke about that.
“When I got a dog, I chose a miniature dachshund. I joked that it was the only one I could get.
“I may be small, but that doesn't stop me from stealing his T-shirts. They're big so they fit better.
“We make a great team. The truth is, we're no different than anyone else.”
She is often mistaken for his daughter or sister and people think twice about her.
She said: “If I've ever been out with Guy's family, when I try to be seated at a restaurant, the waiter first says, 'This is a table for three adults and one child,' and then looks at me. I'll correct it to “4 adults.''
Guy added: “I always walk tall and am ready to stand up for her when needed.
“It gets really weird sometimes when it comes to people thinking she’s my daughter.
“My friends have kids who are as tall as Caitlin, and you can tell they don't fully understand. They're trying to play with Caitlin.”
Caitlin said people initially questioned their relationship or attributed it to some kind of “fetish.”
But in reality, the love is “real,” Caitlin said, and it's about “finding yourself.”
She says, “It's important to find the right person for you, regardless of your height, appearance, job, location, or family opinion.
“Despite differences in height and abilities, a genuine relationship can exist.
“There's no need to portray it or take it negatively.”
Guy added: “The second time we met, I remember thinking, 'If this is happy, I've never been happy.'”
“I think Caitlin is beautiful and I'm proud to be with her.”
