When I first met Dru Presta outside her Los Angeles home, she had all the makings of a fashion model: piercing eyes, flawless skin, confident walk, and working ALL. HER. ANGLES. However, there was one glaring difference: she stands only 3-foot-4 inches tall. Dressed in a black crop top and a donning a low ponytail, she walked towards me with immeasurable confidence and a smile. “Hey , I’m Dru” she said, as we gave each other a firm handshake. She was cool, fearless, upbeat. I was hungover, greasy and arthritic. But that’s irrelevant. The Puerto Rican/ Sicilian beauty has parlayed her gorgeous looks and unique height into a budding modeling career focused on body-positivity, redefining beauty, and destroying fashion stereotypes. Ironically enough, her charisma, kindness, and intrepid spirit had me forgetting her height and focusing on the amazing person she is and the important work she is doing. Learn more with my Q+A with Dru below!
WAS THERE AN AGE OR MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED YOU WERE DIFFERENT?
The moment I realized I was different was when everyone realized I was different. It became to an age where they started to question and understand a lot more and that your a lot shorter, and look different than the other kids around us. I started to get bullied and I didn’t understand until everyone started getting tall.
YOU EXUDE SUCH CONFIDENCE. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
I get my confidence by the people I surround my self with. My parents always told me I can do anything and pushed me to always try my best to things my self so I didn’t have to depend on people too much. I was taught how to handle my self in certain situations. With the friends I have, they always told me I have every opportunity out here just as any body else, and being different actually help make your career. And it has!
HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELING?
I got into modeling when a simple day on the beach, I caught a photographers eye and he handed me his business card. I was hesitant but checked out his website. He was all about body positivity for women and for women to show their true selves in front of the camera, no matter the size, and I became part of a beautiful campaign called Sunday Morning View. I did a photoshoot with him and my Instagram blew up in just a few days. It was all up hill from there!
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?
My role models are all women, bossing up, taking care of business, including her own mental mind, and just searching for adventure and to discover life! My mother was able to help me experience life to the fullest, and I am who I am because of her.
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MAKING TO THE MODELING INDUSTRY AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE REDEFINE BEAUTY?
I’m changing the modeling industry by introducing a new market to brands and buyers. Little People fit in the Petite Category which is still a market, nobody knows were in it. I want more fashionable clothes for people of my size, to feel comfortable and stylish. To show that we are HERE and I’m going to make sure we’re HEARD. For those that feel that they don’t fit in, or out of place, know that your not alone, and once you start to accept the body your given, and work towards loving it and nourishing it with positive intakes, your new confident attitude will be noticed every where you go.
HAS ANYONE REACHED OUT AND SAID THAT YOU’VE HELPED THEM FIND THEIR OWN SELF-CONFIDENCE? WHAT DID THEY SAY?
I do get a lot of messages that I help show a lot of my followers that you only have one life, and the opinions of others are just static noise to the ears. Society pressures a lot of us women, specifically, on how we should feel or act, just because we’re women. We have every right to feel how we feel, or to dress, act, and be in a career that some just don’t understand or care to like. But that’s them. And that’s great. But this is me. And my life.
WHAT DO YOU FIND HARDEST ABOUT LIVING IN A WORLD BUILT FOR AN AVERAGE HEIGHT PERSON ?
I don’t believe I know anything else but living in an Average Height World. I can always add stools to every room, or climb on every counter to get and reach things. But if I could modify my house to have it an appropriate height for me, I would!
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS YOU’VE FACED ABOUT YOUR SIZE ?
A lot of misconceptions about my size are always that I’m not taken seriously. I always have to prove that I am capable of doing the same task as everyone else, or even prove to myself that I can do it. Or that im a child. Or that dating a Little Person is Taboo. We’re people. It’s completely normal.
HAS DATING EVER BEEN SCARY FOR YOU? DOES HAVING A BOYFRIEND OF AVERAGE HEIGHT PRESENT ANY CHALLENGES?
Dating is different when dating a Little Person, but it’s also normal at the same time. That person, specifically for me has to be okay with being in the spotlight, to having extreme patience with being in public with me BECAUSE of the public. To understand that he’s going to be a little bit more of the muscle in the relationship if I can’t reach something or if it’s heavy but not really to you guys. But it’s just me, cracking jokes, being goofy and nerdy and just Dru !
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY DONT?
I’m actually a very chill and relaxed person, I love just being at home, watching movies, going to the beach, or lunch with friends. But when I do go out, I go all out!
DREAMS AND GOALS — WHAT ARE THEY?
My dreams and goals are for brands and business to be more inclusive with the industry, and to travel the world, helping brand company’s for inclusive and adaptive fashion. Collaborate with Kim Kardashian’s Kid Line and show that clothes are just as marketable to Little People as well, by just showing and advertising, it’s a big message to the world.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
My hobbies include more like physical activity. I love hiking, finding new ways to exercise my body safely helps to keep me fit and healthy.
YOU’RE LA-BASED…FAVORITE SPOT TO EAT? GET TIPSY?
My favorite spot to eat is called Bruno’s, it’s in East LA, in Brea. It’s and authentic Italian place, really good cheese board and drinks! The pasta is to die for and so fresh! My favorite spot, it’s worth the travel coming from central Los Angeles.
Want to read about more interesting people and places?
Make sure you check out the World’s first “Hot Sauce Sommeliers”. Or this cozy rooftop cabin escape in New York City.
