***PLEASE SEE EDITOR'S NOTES BEFORE PUBLISHING***

A woman who is three feet tall has gone viral on TikTok after sharing her experiences of living with dwarfism – including her struggles with everything from dating to cooking and everyday tasks.

Isabella Lamanna, 19, from Ontario, Canada, works as a content creator and has just finished her first year of university, doing an undergraduate degree in psychology.

The student was diagnosed with diastrophic dysplasia when she was a baby, a rare condition that is one of 400 types of dwarfism, affecting her cartilage and bone development.

It has also stunted her growth, which impacts several areas of her life, with doctors believing Isabella would never walk – but she has "proven them completely wrong".

"When I was born, the doctors had realised my hips were dislocated and because of this I would butt-scoot around the house to get around," she told NeedToKnow.online.

"They broke the news to my parents that I would most likely not be able to walk.

"Although I have proved them completely wrong – learning how to walk, run, and jump with dislocated hips still to this day!

"I have faced people staring, pointing, laughing and even commenting for my whole life.

"My parents taught me from a young age to ignore it, because they’re just not educated.

"When kids ask me questions, I am very open to answering them as they’re just curious and may not have seen a little person before."

However, it hasn't always been easy to overcome issues and keeping her spirits up is at times hard.

In October 2015, Isabella was taken in for a spinal fusion and each year would go for an X-ray to check on her scoliosis, which is where the spine twists and curves to the side.

She said: "That year, my scoliosis had severely worsened and my curve reached a high of 100 degrees which is very, very risky.

"They knew they had to go in and correct this right away, meaning I was and out of the hospital for six months, having a total of four surgeries."

By the end of the procedure, doctors had to break Isabella's spine to remove a rib and disk, as well as using bone from her calf to fuse her spine as straight as possible.

She added: "Being in the hospital was exhausting but the staff made my experience so memorable.

"I had therapy dogs visit me each day, as well as my art and music therapist and therapeutic clowns, they were amazing at distracting you from the pain!"

She also faces other challenges on a daily basis, including cooking, baking and dating.

Isabella said: "People like young adults can be very immature and some may have their heart set on a girl of average height rather than a little person.

"There is also an issue with fetishes which is pretty awful, you just never know sometimes if they actually want to talk to you or if it's just on their 'list' unfortunately.

"It's all good though, when the right one comes it'll be great.

"It can also definitely be hard reaching things, I need to move my stool around and climb counters in order to reach certain things.

"A task that may take an average height person 10 minutes to complete, could take us up to 30 minutes.

"Doing my hair is also challenging and I often ask my friends and family to help me.

"Also, reaching things in stores like grocery shopping can be difficult alone, as well as pumping gas and shopping for clothes.

"But luckily, I have an electric scooter to get around quicker when going long distances and have pedal extensions which help me drive!"

Wanting to educate people on what it's like to live with dwarfism, Isabella has taken to TikTok (@bella.lamanna), where she has over 888,000 followers and millions of likes on her clips.

She said: "I use TikTok and YouTube to answer questions as well as showcase my daily life to people.

"Showing that with a little bit of adjustment and accommodations I can do anything an average height person can!

"Ultimately, I want to help and inspire people of all heights and show other little people that they must embrace their differences and never give up, or say they can’t do something without trying."

Isabella has big plans for the future and wants to become a psychologist or psychiatrist.

She added: "I feel that I’m very good at listening and giving people advice.

"I’m patient and very caring, which is a good fit for that career path.

"I’m going to continue my undergrad and probably complete my masters as well as get a PHD in order to become a doctor!"

She has also recently become an ambassador for SickKids, a research hospital, sharing her story with others and even modelling in shoots, and also takes part in her "little people [LP] community", running social media accounts for the local chapter of the group.

Isabella said: "I have presented speeches about my story to countless audiences of many sizes, 800 being my largest crowd!

"I have also took part in many commercial videos and photoshoots for the foundation.

"Before starting social media, it was this whole experience that brought me out of my comfort zone, realising that I wanted to help and inspire others who were like me.

"The message that I want to send to others, as well as other little people is that you cannot change who you are, so you must embrace it.

"Everyone is unique in their own way, and you are perfect just the way you are!

"One step at a time, people will be educated about dwarfism and everyone will feel that much more included in society."

ENDS

EDITOR'S NOTES Please note case study is slightly sensitive; she is happy to mention the dating aspect in copy but does not want press to use this in the headline or as the main hook.

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