Shauna Rae, the star of TLC’s I Am Shauna Rae, shared her experiences and struggles as a person with pituitary dwarfism during a recent Q&A session. In the show’s two seasons, viewers witnessed the hardships faced by individuals of very small stature. Shauna, who is 24 years old, described her life as feeling “trapped in the body of an eight-year-old.”
Shauna Rae’s Difficulties
In the first season of I Am Shauna Rae, fans learned that Shauna had battled cancer as a baby, which damaged her pituitary gland and stunted her growth. As a result, she only stands at 3’10” as a fully grown adult. This has led to various challenges for Shauna, as people often mistake her for a child.
While the show focused on her quest to find a boyfriend who wasn’t judgmental, viewers also saw that Shauna’s mother seemed hesitant to let her become independent. In her mother’s eyes, Shauna was still a child, creating complex dynamics. Recently, the TLC star opened up about the difficult experiences she faced during her school years.
Struggles of Bullying and Being Small at School
Shauna took to Instagram to discuss the challenges she encountered as a child. Much of her post revolved around her difficulty in handling negative criticism. In her caption, she explained:
“Negative criticism now is nothing, but growing up it almost ruined me. It’s why I took a step back to find myself. It’s why social media breaks are important to me.”
Shauna Rae shared that it took time for her to adjust to the fact that people would make fun of her throughout her life. She even recounted an incident where she was picked up and dragged almost to the boys’ bathroom. Consequently, she faced difficulties in making friends, which is understandable given her experiences.
In the comments section, many TLC fans who watched I Am Shauna Rae stepped up to offer their support and encouragement:
“Much love and support Shauna. You seem like a very nice, sweet girl. I wish I could have met you in school. I would have been your friend, and we would have been the coolest kids in school.”
“If I had been in school with you, a lot of jerks would have gotten slapped silly. To me, people who are different make the world more interesting and worth being in.”
“You’ve had to deal with a lot. What a fine young woman you’re becoming.”
These comments reflect the outpouring of love and support from fans who admire Shauna’s strength and resilience in the face of adversity.