Body & More • April 2012 • 2
Live Big
In your book you talk a lot about how McCune Albright does not define you as a person, yet it has colored every aspect of your life. How do you reconcile this? I think that the disease taught me how to be an independent person from a very young age. Though I was forced into it, it was all for the positive. It taught me to be independent and strong and really define my personality at a young age. I think the advice I can offer is great for teenagers, and really, women up until their 20s and 30s. It’s about defining yourself, not letting other things define you.
Tips for how to stand tall in the world from 4’2” author, Lauren Ruotolo
You offer a lot of advice in your book. If you could offer just one bit of advice to women starting off their careers, what would that be? I think that today we look to the recession and blame the economy for not being able to land a job. I say, let’s not look at that, and just be positive about yourself, about the knowledge you’ve gained from college and throughout your life. Be creative. Make people remember you. Try to become unforgettable in a job interview. Pinpoint something you discussed that’s going to make you stand out and don’t give up. Your first job might not be the ultimate job, but it might turn out to be an amazing opportunity. In the end, it will probably be the job where you learn the most. How much of the problems you faced do you think were simply because of the height – or was it specifically that there was a disease attached to your stature? Being short has been a component to it, when it came to getting hired and all of the interviews – I think that was less about my height and more about my crutches. They automatically labeled me as disabled instead of getting to know me. It’s something that’s different that stands out about you, sets people back for a minute.
By Angie Jaime CTW FEATURES
Lauren Ruotolo, director of entertainment promotions at Hearst Magazines and author of “Unstoppable in Stilettos” (HCI, 2010) is a powerhouse in a petite package. She lives with McCune-Albright syndrome, a rare illness has stunted her height – but not her ambition. Her new book offers tongue-in-cheek advice on everything from facing insecurities to overcoming labels and proves that at 4 feet 2 inches, living tall is a state of mind.
In America, especially in your line of work – the entertainment and media industry – what does it mean to be small? America doesn’t have an edit button. They don’t stop and think [insults are] going to affect the person you’re saying it to. It goes back to your mother’s old rule: Think before you speak. People look at me now as the pistol that walks in and controls the room and really just knows how to talk to people. The workplace is a place where I’m the example of small people in my office. I’ve set an example for handicapped people or for anybody who’s a little bit different. Socially, it’s completely less accepted in the dating world and social world. I’ve had some of the most amazing friendships and half of them have no idea the specifics of the disease I have. They’ve never sat down and asked me specifically what’s wrong. That’s how I’ve based my friendships. You’re friends with me because of my personality, because of me. People forget about anything if your personality overpowers whatever your disability is, whether mental or physical. I don’t label myself as disabled. To me, a disability is what you make it to be. © CTW Features