I’m 2ft smaller than my boyfriend but despite the negativity we make our relationship work
A woman has revealed how she is often mistaken for her boyfriend's little sister because of the height gap between them.
Caitlin Hellyer, 23, from Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire has achondroplasia dwarfism - a bone growth disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the arms and legs. It means, at 3ft 8in, she is 2ft shorter than her partner, Guy Pritchard, 33, who is 5ft 8.
When the couple are out together strangers will often stare or laugh, with some people even questioning whether their relationship is genuine, but Caitlin says their two and a half year relationship is just like any other, with them even making jokes about the height gap between them.
"When we met, we hit it off right away and it's been like that ever since," Caitlin explains. "We do get stared at and people sometimes take photos of us," she continues. "I've been mistaken for a child and sometimes people think I'm his younger sibling, but I'm not sure how as I'm a 23-year-old woman with boobs!"
Caitlin says despite hearing people sniggering at their romance and receiving horrible comments online she is determined to prove they won't take any notice about what people say. "Guy is so genuine," she says. "I'm the happiest I've ever been. I feel safe and protected. There can be genuine relationships with height or ability differences and being shallow only restricts you from finding true love."
Caitlin and Guy, a marine engineer, met in May 2022 after speaking online for weeks and staying up until 3am chatting. Two months later they decided to move in together and haven't looked back. "I pass him things on the low shelves of the pantry, and he gets things out of the high cupboards," Caitlin says. "He has to lift me up because his Land Rover is too high for me to get into - we joke about it all the time."
"When we got our dog we picked a miniature Dachshund - we laughed about how it's the only one we could get for me," Caitlin continues. "I might be smaller but it doesn't stop me stealing his t-shirts - they're bigger so they're more snuggly. We make a great team - we're no different to anyone else really."
Despite their happiness, Caitlin says they do have obstacles to face while out in public particularly as she is often mistaken for his daughter, or younger sister. "If I've been out with Guy's family, when we go to get seated in a restaurant, the waiter or waitress will often say 'table for three adults and a child?' before looking at me and correcting to 'four adults'."
But Caitlin knows her partner will be there to help her tackle any negativity. "I'll always be ready to stand up for her when it's required," Guy explains. "With regards to people thinking she's my daughter, it's quite funny sometimes. My friends have children about the same height as Caitlin and you can see they don't quite understand - they try to play with her."
While many may have initially questioned their relationship or put it down to a "fetish" of some sort Caitlin says their love is genuine and says it is about "finding your person" no matter their difference. "It's about finding the one who is right for you - regardless of height, looks, job, location, and family's opinions," she explains. "There are people with a height difference or different abilities who are having genuine relationships and it shouldn't be painted or perceived in a negative way."
Guy adds: "I am a strong person and I'm very open about my love towards Caitlin and who she is," he says. "We love each other and we don't need to prove that to anyone. The second time we met, I remember thinking, 'if this is happiness then I've never been happy before.' I think Caitlin's beautiful and so I'm proud to be with her."
Read more about relationships:
'I'm 25 years younger than my husband - people think I'm his daughter' (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
How to make a relationship work if you have mental health issues (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
I rekindled my holiday romance and got married 10 years later (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
