Shauna Rae Lesick, who stars in her own TLC reality show I Am Shauna Rae, has shared why she keeps her boyfriend’s identity private. Despite looking like an 8-year-old due to a rare condition, Shauna is actually 26 years old.
She became well-known after the show, which gave viewers a glimpse into her unique lifestyle. In the 2022 trailer for the series, Shauna explained, “I am a 22-year-old woman trapped in the body of an 8-year-old.”
At the age of 16, Shauna discovered that she had stopped growing, marking a difficult period in her life.
Shauna Rae, 26, who is the same size as an eight-year-old, opened up about her struggles in an interview with PEOPLE. She recalled, “It was probably the lowest point in my life, as I always envisioned being tall. Learning that news felt like a hammer smashing into glass.”
Shauna went on to explain, “I somewhat withdrew from others to discover myself and achieve happiness with who I am, since at the time, I wasn’t content with myself.”
She added, “I began online schooling and focused on myself, figuring out what I wanted to do, who I was, and how to improve.”
Shauna Rae’s growth was halted due to a childhood diagnosis of brain cancer. Although she overcame the illness, the cancer and its treatments affected her pituitary gland, which plays a key role in growth. At 26, she has been diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism.
Since her show debuted three years ago, Shauna Rae has remained in the public eye. She most recently appeared on The Unplanned Podcast, hosted by Abby and Matt Howard.
During the interview, Shauna was asked about her current relationship and why she keeps her boyfriend’s identity private.
“Neither of us cares about his face being public,” she explained. “I’m more concerned because he has a great job. I don’t want any negative impacts on his workplace. They know who I am, and they appreciate me.”
Shauna Rae further explained, “Given what social media entails and what I know my boyfriend isn’t, I want to avoid putting labels on him, especially if he’s not my lifelong partner.”
She continued, “For now, unless we’re getting married or I’m planning a future with him, his face won’t be shown.”
