Things are looking up for this unconventional couple.
Despite the height gap haters, a 6-foot-9-inch woman who married a 5-foot-4-inch man has vowed to look past their difference of views — literally.
Elisany da Cruz Silva was born with gigantism, a very rare medical condition where excess growth hormones (GH) are produced due to a tumor on the pituitary gland. The excessive amount of GH accelerates the growth of muscle, bones and connective tissue, leading to an abnormally tall height.
The condition made it hard for the Brazilian influencer to see eye-to-eye with potential partners, but when she first met Francinaldo da Silva Carvalho eight years ago, there was an instant connection.
Francinaldo said he fell in love with her quickly.
“She is a beautiful person,” he said in an interview with the YouTube channel Truly. “She is tall but so pretty, with a beautiful face.”
Two years later, the couple got married and soon after welcomed a baby boy named Angelo, who is now three years old.
But their loving relationship hasn’t been easy — the pair often face judgment and backlash from people both online and in real life.
“When we go out in public, we can see people looking and smirking at us,” Elisany said. “Even if they don’t say anything, you can tell they are judging us.”
“The prejudice of some people used to be too much. I suffered a lot and had depression,” she shared. “So if they say anything now, I don’t pay attention anymore. I just ignore them. I don’t like to think about it.”
Even their families had something to say and were alarmed by their relationship. Francinaldo’s family initially admitted that they thought the romance was “strange” when they first started dating because of the height.
His aunt, Socorro, said that she “thought the marriage wouldn’t work, especially when you said you were moving in together.”
But once it was clear the two were smitten with each other, the opinions shifted.
“I think it’s beautiful, the two of them with their son — just the three of them,” his mother said.
Elisany’s height hasn’t stopped her from doing what she wanted in life, though they have faced challenges along the way.
Doctors had warned her that she may never have a normal birth due to her excessive height.
Sadly, her first pregnancy, with twins, was a miscarriage, and she had “always wanted to be a mother,” and that pain and loss still weighed on her.
“It had always been my dream to be a mother, and for the doctor to tell me I lost two. That they were twins. I was in despair,” she said.
But when they found out they were pregnant again with Angelo, the couple was filled with happiness again — and everything went smoothly.
“It was the happiest moment when he was born,” she said.
Now, Elisany is striving to accomplish her dreams of being a model.
“My dream is that she becomes successful with her modeling career so we can give a good future to our son and put him through school so he can follow his path,” Francinaldo said.
“For me, the most important thing is that I can teach my family to always be together so we don’t spend time arguing, and I can provide the best for my son and wife as well.”
Elisany agreed, saying that they’re together because “we actually like each other” — not just because of their son.
And though many judge them, there are people who offer their support as well.
“A lot of people don’t even have half their happiness and love. That’s why they judge because they are jealous of what they have,” someone wrote on social media.
“She’s absolutely stunning and clearly they are in love — I don’t understand why people would see an issue simply because of their height difference,” another said.
“I mean, she is tall, but why would that make a relationship not work?! She is stunningly beautiful,” one pointed out.
“My father was 5ft. My mom was 5ft 6in. They were married when they were 17 and 18. They celebrated their 61st Anniversary. Height has nothing to do with love,” someone shared.
