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Woman, 6ft 1in, Shopped At Night To Avoid Comments About 5ft 6in Boyfriend

Woman, 6ft 1in, Shopped At Night To Avoid Comments About 5ft 6in Boyfriend

Vanessa has Marfan Syndrome, which causes exceptional growth and long limbs

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

A 6ft 1in woman used to shop at night to avoid comments from strangers about her 5ft 6in boyfriend.

Vanessa Davis, from Leeds, has Marfan Syndrome, which is a condition that causes exceptional growth and means she is very tall.

The 27-year-old says that due to the height difference between her and her partner, Daniel Brown, 30, people often stare at them when they are out.

According to the couple, the snide remarks and looks from strangers have put a lot of pressure on their relationship and made things difficult.

Vanessa said: "People would ask what I'm doing with him and tell me to find a man and someone taller.

"It's really knocked his manhood and if anything, he's more of a man because he doesn't let it bother him.

Mercury Press

"People think they can say what they like but don't see why it would be offensive.

"It was a massive strain on our relationship. We would go shopping at night time rather than in the day."

She added: "The worst thing people say is that Dan must have a lot of money which I don't understand.

"They always say he must be loaded. He could have not a penny to his name and I wouldn't care."

The couple got together after Dan moved into Vanessa's block of flats, and despite the difficulties have never looked back.

Vanessa said: "We immediately clicked when we first met and we've been inseparable ever since.

Mercury Press

"We call ourselves Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman but hopefully without their ending."

Vanessa explained she was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome when she was a child.

She said: "I was at school one day and all of a sudden I went blind and obviously started freaking out because I was four.

"When I went to the hospital, we found out I had dislocated eye lenses, then I was in and out of hospital ever since.

"When I was a baby, my heart would stop and my mum would have to resuscitate me and nobody knew why.

"I had to lay on a blanket that would beep when my heart stopped. I can't imagine what my mum went through."

She added: "I try not to let it affect my life but it really has. People don't understand it, they tell me I should be a model which I think is quite insensitive because I'm not tall, I have a condition.

"It's an invisible illness but if I was see through, people would be able to see what's going on inside my body."

Featured Image Credit: Mercury Press

Topics: Leeds, Dating, Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Health