The world's shortest couple - who both measue less then 3 feet tall - have proved that height doesn't matter when it comes to...
The world's shortest couple - who both measue less then 3 feet tall - have proved that height doesn't matter when it comes to love.
Paulo Gabriel da Silva Barros and Katyucia Hoshino, from Brazil, both have forms of dwarfism and stand at 34.8in and 35.2in respectively.
The pair, who hope to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, said they met on a social media website ten years ago and started chatting on MSN Messenger.
Paulo, 30, who has a rare genetic condition called diastrophic dysplasia dwarfism, said it was love at first sight for him.
'I found her very beautiful from the first moment I saw her,' he said.
But the attraction wasn't mutual. Katyucia, 26, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, which affects bone growth, initially blocked him on the instant messaging site.
She said: 'The first time I started talking to Paulo, he was really annoying. He had cheap-pick up lines.'
Paulo, who works as a legal secretary, said: 'She thought I was trying to flirt but I was just being nice. According to her I was a really boring guy.'
That would have been the end of the matter, if Katyucia hadn't suddenly decided to unblock him 18 months later
'I found her very beautiful from the first moment I saw her,' he said.
But the attraction wasn't mutual. Katyucia, 26, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, which affects bone growth, initially blocked him on the instant messaging site.
She said: 'The first time I started talking to Paulo, he was really annoying. He had cheap-pick up lines.'
Paulo, who works as a legal secretary, said: 'She thought I was trying to flirt but I was just being nice. According to her I was a really boring guy.'
That would have been the end of the matter, if Katyucia hadn't suddenly decided to unblock him 18 months later
Katyucia, who now owns her own beauty salon that has been specially adapted for her size, said: 'One day something happened in my head and I went and unblocked him. By then he was already more relatable.'
Paulo said: 'When she unblocked me, it didn't take me more than a minute to say hello. we started speaking and she said I was more civilised.'
Two months later, Paulo travelled more than 186 milies to Katyucia's home city of Londrina to meet her.
He said he was bowled over by Katyucia's beauty, but she was shy and unimpressed with his dress sense.
Paulo said: 'What most attracted me to her, besides her beauty, was how sweet she was. It was her sweet personality.'
The beautician said: 'He was wearing an orange shirt, jeans and sunglasses - thank God it has improved since then.'
Despite Katyucia's concerns about the long distance between them, five days later the pair started dating and after four years they moved in together.
Katyucia said: 'I had never dated before so Paulo is my first boyfriend, my first everything.'
Now they say they're are like any other couple. Paulo has a specially-adapted car to enable him to drive, while Katyucia's beauty salon has been specially modified for her height.
Paulo has a specially-adapted car to enable him to drive
Paulo, who has ambitions to run for mayor in his home town of Itapeva, said: 'Basically, we are a normal couple but our height is a little smaller.
'The best thing about our relationship is our closeness, our companionship we have for each other.
'She supports me in everything, she's my little warrior.'
Katyucia added: 'We fight like every couple. A couple that doesn't fight isn't a normal couple.
Paulo said: 'When she unblocked me, it didn't take me more than a minute to say hello. we started speaking and she said I was more civilised.'
Two months later, Paulo travelled more than 186 milies to Katyucia's home city of Londrina to meet her.
He said he was bowled over by Katyucia's beauty, but she was shy and unimpressed with his dress sense.
Paulo said: 'What most attracted me to her, besides her beauty, was how sweet she was. It was her sweet personality.'
The beautician said: 'He was wearing an orange shirt, jeans and sunglasses - thank God it has improved since then.'
Despite Katyucia's concerns about the long distance between them, five days later the pair started dating and after four years they moved in together.
Katyucia said: 'I had never dated before so Paulo is my first boyfriend, my first everything.'
Now they say they're are like any other couple. Paulo has a specially-adapted car to enable him to drive, while Katyucia's beauty salon has been specially modified for her height.
Paulo has a specially-adapted car to enable him to drive
Paulo, who has ambitions to run for mayor in his home town of Itapeva, said: 'Basically, we are a normal couple but our height is a little smaller.
'The best thing about our relationship is our closeness, our companionship we have for each other.
'She supports me in everything, she's my little warrior.'
Katyucia added: 'We fight like every couple. A couple that doesn't fight isn't a normal couple.
The smitten couple who have been together for 8 years are open to the possibility of children in the future - although it may be difficult for Katyucia to carry a baby full-term because of her size.
She said: 'We've discussed having kids. My pregnancy would be high risk because the size of my uterus wouldn't support a baby.
'We've decided to let things happen at the right moment. In regards to the future we say: 'never say never'.'
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