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Model with dwarfism promotes body-positivity

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PHOTO: Instagram/@g0lden.bebe
PHOTO: Instagram/@g0lden.bebe

It’s become the norm to see tall, slender models sashaying their way on the runway.

But this American model, who’s just more than a metre tall, is showing the world that being sexy comes in all shapes and sizes.

Dru Tresta (21), from Reno, Nevada, was a victim of bullying for 15 years because of her condition, achondroplasia – a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism, according to Healthline

A post shared by Dru Presta (@g0lden.bebe) on

The fashion marketing student moved to Los Angeles two years ago to follow her dream of becoming a model and to try to break into the competitive fashion industry.

And while she oozes confidence and sass, Dru says it took her a while to get there.

"Reno is really small, so it’s very small in diversity. They weren’t quite accepting of something different – something abnormal,” she told Barcroft TV.

“They definitely rung me out really hard. They teased and they made hurtful names. I just stuck out like a sore thumb.”

A post shared by Dru Presta (@g0lden.bebe) on

Although Dru had her family’s support they still had to learn all about her condition as she was the first person in her family with dwarfism, The Sun reported.

Before moving to LA, fashionable Dru found it hard to find trendy clothes in her hometown – but now she’s able to enjoy the life she’s always dreamt of.

"I decided to get into this field because I don’t want anyone else to feel like they can’t express themselves, like I did back home,” she says.  

A post shared by Dru Presta (@g0lden.bebe) on

The brunette beauty wants her modelling pictures to show that people can be sexy no matter their size.

"You can be super-duper tall and 6 foot 4 inches [1,9m] or you can be 3 foot 4 inches [1m] like me and still look sexy and cute,” she says.

Dru’s modelling career has boosted her confidence and her Instagram page is filled with gorgeous pictures, with her 10 000 followers praising her sultry images. “I feel a lot sexier in front of the camera; it’s like a different Dru that likes to be exposed,” she says.

“Honestly, there are just no other words – I love being in front of the camera.”

A post shared by Dru Presta (@g0lden.bebe) on

The student hopes other people with dwarfism will soon be able to strut their stuff on the runway and be accepted by the fashion industry.

"My advice for people with dwarfism who would love to become a model is just to do it," Dru says.

“I want anybody to be able to walk that runway just like anybody else – whether you see them rolling down the runway in your wheelchair or on crutches.”

Sources: thesun.co.uk, dailymail.co.uk, metro.co.uk, therevelist.com, healthline.com, barcroft.tv, instagram.com

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