Shauna Rae discusses the importance of revealing her life as a pituitary dwarf: ‘I’m doing it for people like me, people who feel different’
The “I Am Shauna Rae” star, 22, addresses the misconceptions of living with pituitary dwarfism on her TLC show: ‘I’m constantly having to prove myself’
Video transcript
HUNTER MCGRADY: I'm Hunter McGrady, model, designer, and activist. And I'm here to talk about everything, from body confidence and feminism to politics and the planet, because remember, we're all worthy.
Today I'm chatting with Shauna Rae, star of the new TLC show, "I am Shauna Rae." Shauna has an inspiring story to tell. After being diagnosed at just six months old with an aggressive form of brain cancer, Shauna underwent rounds of chemotherapy that stunted her growth. Some that might see this as a setback, but this 22-year-old is determined to gain her independence, all while living life in the body of an eight-year-old girl. Hi Shauna. What are some misconceptions about that you kind of want to get across?
SHAUNA RAE: People don't understand dwarfism in general. People think I'm unintelligent because they view me as my height and as a child that would match that height. I get talked down to. That is probably one of the hardest parts about it, is because I'm constantly having to prove myself.
HUNTER MCGRADY: Most 22-year-olds, we have a long list of dreams and goals. What is on your to do list?
SHAUNA RAE: I would like to do something along the lines with fashion, because unfortunately, there's not a lot of clothes out there.
HUNTER MCGRADY: What is that like? Because, listen, as a plus-size woman, I get that on the other end of the spectrum, where there's nothing available for me either.
SHAUNA RAE: Growing up, I kind of always felt younger than I was, just because I was dressing younger. It was a little difficult to wrap my head around how to look older with children's clothes on and trying to make things fit to my body. When I stopped growing at 16, I started actually sewing, so I got into making clothes fit me perfectly. And then I'll steal my sister's clothes for the day. She can't steal them back if I fix them.
HUNTER MCGRADY: You and your sisters had a really beautiful, lighthearted approach to dating. And they set up an online dating profile for you. I started dating, I think, really around your age too. It's a wild ride. I'm so curious.
SHAUNA RAE: Teenage years was a little simpler, just because I grew up in this small knit kind of community. Everyone knew about me, and so guys were attracted to me. I dated in high school. Because of what my sisters did with the online dating, I have realized that online dating isn't for me because I need an in-person interaction.
Because I don't drive, the guys I date come out to me. I don't make them meet my parents right away. We don't go far from my house. Any guy that suggests that I go further, I kind of have red flags about, just because if you're concerned about my safety, then that's a really good sign for me.
HUNTER MCGRADY: You've been really open about your fertility. And you shared that if doctors told you that you couldn't have kids, that you would be angry.
SHAUNA RAE: I always knew I could carry a baby if I wanted to. That's probably not the best case for me being 50 pounds, of course. So I've always been like, OK, well, surrogacy or adoption is probably the best option. And knowing that chemo can affect my entire chance of having a baby just takes away something that I don't even know if I want.
HUNTER MCGRADY: I love how you are thinking about those things. What support systems do you have in place that really protect your mental health?
SHAUNA RAE: I do have a therapist. I make sure at the end of the day, when I put my head on that pillow, I don't hold anyone else's thoughts in my head. No matter what, I'm happy with who I am. And no one else's opinion is going to determine that for me.
HUNTER MCGRADY: A lot of exposure comes with appearing on a reality TV show. Why did you put yourself out there?
SHAUNA RAE: I'm not doing it for me. I am doing it for people like me, people who feel different, people who feel alone, people who need that support. I'm here. I want to be there for people.
HUNTER MCGRADY: I'm so excited to continue watching. Thank you so much, beautiful girl, for sitting down with me today and sharing your heart.
SHAUNA RAE: Thank you so much for having me.
