I' m 5' 3" and have never considered myself short.  But then I start thinking about things like being a flight attendent or modeling and suddenly feel like I' m being put at a disadvantage due to something that is completely out of my control.  Jobs like being an actor are attainable to everyone if they have talent and drive.  It may be difficult, but it is possible. 

When it comes to modeling, however, I feel like people my height aren' t even given a chance.  Sure, a short, beautiful girl might be able to do print work or even commercial work, but the world of high fashion seems absolutely obsessed with height.  I understand that designers want tall people in order to best show off their creations.  When looking at it from an art point of view, it makes sense.  I still don' t find it fair, though.  Sometimes I find myself completely engrossed in America' s Next Top Model.  It' s definately a guilty pleasure.  There' s nothing I like more than seeing the beautiful photographs at the end of every episode.  It plays to people' s obsession with makeovers.  However, I remember one episode when a girl who was 5' 7" was basically told she had to work extra hard to make up for her lack of stature.  She was eventually sent home.  

If a little girl grows up dreaming of becoming a high fashion model but only reaches 5' 3", her chances of ever getting to walk the runway are slim to none.  Sure, there' s always fashion shows at the local mall.  I' m actually all about these small scale shows because they often involve local girls who are normal sizes, allowing the audience to get a clear picture of what an outfit might actually look like on them.  However, one can' t make a career out of that.  So what?  Is that it?  Are the short people cut off from being able to take part in that world?  

I' m not writing this because I want to model.  That' s never been a desire of mine.  Sure, I did the clubs when I was a kid and participated in some of those mall shows.  I did it for fun, and because having someone do your hair and makeup is a great way to instantly feel more beautiful (plus, it' s free).  I know next to nothing about high fashion.  I certainly don' t have the appreciation I would apparently need to make it in the fashion world (at least  not according to the movie The Devil Wears Prada).  And that' s fine with me.  I like my style--I call it "Harajuku Punk"--and find most of the stuff I see on the runway to be hideous anyway. 

So if they' re making crazy clothes for art' s sake, then fine.  But if these designers are actually trying to create something that is going to start a fashion trend, maybe they should put some more normal sized women up there.  Seriously.  The only people that those models represent are other models.  I want at least someone who will walk down that runway and represent me.  And I want that little girl who dreams of being up there to have the chance.  

As for me, my dreams are to be a published author and a movie extra.  Both of these dreams are feasible, and I' m confident that they will come true someday.  However, if they don' t, my back-up plan is flight attending.  Unfortunately, many airlines have height requirements for this.  I feel like I might be just on the fringe of meeting requirements, although I haven' t really looked into it in a while.  I will say this, though.  If they told me they couldn' t hire me because I am too short, I would be fine with that.  Not super happy, but fine.  The height requirement is for a good reason:  attendents need to be able to easily reach into overhead bins and reach over people.  This is practical.  I feel like height requirements for modeling are purely superficial...