6ft 1in woman with a 5ft 9in boyfriend admits she felt ‘self-conscious’

A 6ft 1in taller woman has revealed how she overcame her own feelings of self-consciousness to date a man who is shorter than her. 

Jess Kay, 22, of Newcastle, said she had never dated someone shorter until she met current boyfriend Matthew Brown-King, 24, who is 5ft 9in, through work in November last year. 

Freelance content writer Jess said at first she resisted holding Matthew’s hand in public because she was ‘really anxious about it’ and ‘didn’t want people staring’. 

Freelance content writer Jess said at first she resisted holding Matthew’s hand in public because she was ‘really anxious about it’ and ‘didn’t want people staring’

But after kissing video editor Matthew on a night out the couple have never looked back. 

Jess said: ‘My friends were a little bit shocked by it because I’ve never gone out with someone smaller than me. 

‘I was completely self conscious about being taller than my partner because I didn’t really want people to look at me, I didn’t want to draw more attention than I already was. 

‘At first I was really anxious about it, I didn’t really want to hold his hand. But he was really proud of holding my hand.’  

Matthew helped his stunning girlfriend overcome her feelings of self-consciousness and the couple have gone from strength to strength since. Pictured, the pair stand back to back

Jess admitted her friends were surprised at her choice of man because she had never dated someone shorter than her before. Pictured, the couple beam on a night out

Jess moved in with Matthew and the couple have been enjoying having more time together while Matt has been furloughed. 

Despite Matthew’s support, Jess still had to endure some teasing.

She said: ‘His friends did compare me to Peter Crouch. I feel a bit self conscious about it but I think it’s just a joke really.

‘I don’t really like being compared to being masculine. I want to be feminine but sometimes i don’t feel that way, I feel quite gangly. Tall women are often sort of one of the lads and they’re not considered to be cute.

‘But on the other hand, there are the Victoria’s Secret models who are really tall, so there are benefits to being tall.’

The couple, pictured together, met through work and have been together for eight months

Matthew said height has ‘never been a factor that’s bothered him’ when it comes to dating and ‘isn’t something he had thought about before’. 

He continued: ‘When I met Jess, we were both sat down, I didn’t even notice her height! Jess has always come across as a bit shy which I just took as being part of her personality.

‘I didn’t even think it could be from her being insecure over her height. She has said that she notices people staring when we’re out but I’ve never noticed it really.

‘I wouldn’t care if she was tall or short – it doesn’t bother me and her height is fine with me.

‘I think Jess just needed someone to give her that belief and I’m glad I’ve been able to be help with her confidence in that way.’

Jess, pictured, explained she used to do all she could to avoid drawing attention to herself

Jess added: ‘I’m definitely far more confident and comfortable with my height since dating Matthew.

‘I can walk in public holding his hand without feeling uncomfortable or as anxious.

‘I hate anything that draws attention to me, but I have this mentality that nobody will be looking at us or care – they’ll be in their own world, minding their business.

‘I have severe anxiety so I think my height contributed to that, but Matthew is so supportive. He doesn’t care about my height, he loves it and says more of me to cuddle!’