I’m Black, Even With Albinism

A WOMAN with dwarfism has rediscovered her passion for dance and wants to inspire others with her moves. She may be only 3ft (and 36 inches) but Jonna or Lil Miss Ross as she is known on social media, has made a big impact with her dancing and message of body positivity. From going viral in her popular dance videos to modelling in a swimsuit shoot, Jonna wants to prove that beauty comes in all sizes. Jonna told Barcroft TV: “A lot of times when I'm in public, most of the time little kids will shout out: ‘Look, a little person’ or, ‘Oh my gosh, she's so short. Why is she so short?’ If they come and talk to me, I'll just explain: ‘I was born with a type of dwarfism. It's not like a disease. You can't catch it. It's not going to do anything to you. I am just like you, just with shorter limbs, that's it. I’m the same person as you’.” The 29-year-old has to buy child-size clothing; her car has been specially adapted and she needs to use a mobility scooter for long distances. Bullied from a young age, Jonna developed eating disorders as a result. She said: “Schooling for me was pretty bad. I was bullied probably my entire life. On top of being different, I would always be made fun of for my weight all the time.” Food became both a comfort and a destructive tool against Jonna as she alternated between binge eating and withholding from eating. By age 21 – even after therapy for her food disorders was starting to have an effect, Jonna moved away from home to go to college. “I found alcohol and it was like this magical thing that helped me be this confident, awesome person. When I was drinking I felt like I could do anything, be anyone, talk to boys, like do whatever I wanted to do. This whole alter ego came out. And so it was fun at first. And then it didn't, become fun anymore. I was very depressed, very depressed, suicidal, like just really bad. And I just didn't want to feel that way anymore.” After interventions from friends and family Jonna went to rehab and has now been sober for almost three years. A big part of Jonna’s recovery was dance. “It helped me again figure out how much confidence I have in myself and what I can actually do.” Jonna started posting videos from her classes, which soon got the attention of some very famous viewers, including Chris Brown and Snoop Dogg.