They Mocked Her Height as a Child — Her Grown-Up Look Has Gone Viral

Now a model, artist, and former reality TV star, she turned the stares, shame, and struggles of her youth into the unapologetic foundation of her identity as a "beautiful and amazing" adult.

From the moment Aly Stosz enters a room, she stands out — literally. Even in kindergarten, she was already a head and shoulders above her classmates. By the time she turned eight, she was five foot eight.

By the age of 12, she measured six foot two. Her growth continued rapidly until high school, where she finally topped out at six foot nine. That staggering height made her taller than Gisele Bündchen, Elle Macpherson, and even Karlie Kloss — models often dubbed "Amazons" for their above-average height.

But while those women were praised and glamorized, Stosz's experience growing up was anything but glamorous. Her height, instead of being admired, was weaponized by bullies. In middle school, classmates called her "Godzilla" and "monster." The names, meant to demean and isolate, had a lasting impact. Stosz admitted:

"I laugh about it now but at the time, obviously, it was deeply upsetting."

The bullying was relentless, and her physical maturity made her an even bigger target. Because she looked older than her age, she often faced inappropriate attention from adult men long before she even understood the implications.

That experience, compounded by years of name-calling and gawking, forced her to grow up much faster than most and confront name-callers. However, Stosz didn't just have to defend herself — she often found herself standing up for others, too.

Her stature made her a protector of sorts, even when the emotional toll was heavy. "It was a lot to handle as a kid. I felt like I was likened to a monster," she said. "[...] But now I like Godzilla and think Godzilla's cool. People are interested in a female monster. It's kind of like taking the extremes of what women represent," Stosz added.

As for her professional life, Stosz channeled her towering presence into a diverse and unconventional career.

Unlike some unusual growth stories, her height isn't the result of any medical condition — it's simply genetics. Her father is six foot seven, her mother is six foot one, and her brother is an astonishing six foot 10.

This genetic anomaly meant that practical obstacles were still very much a reality for Stosz. Air travel remained uncomfortable as most commercial airline seats couldn't accommodate her frame.

Shoe shopping was another challenge. With a woman's size 16 and a man's 14, her options were limited. "I can get stripper heels if I want to wear heels because they are very inclusive in size range, and men's boots and sneakers. Beyond that, options are very limited, but I make it work," she revealed.

Thus, Stosz's fashion sense became a mix of determination and being resourceful. She relied heavily on thrift stores, online digging, and frequent returns. "I just have to be very creative [...]," she said.

As for her professional life, Stosz channeled her towering presence into a diverse and unconventional career. She became a content creator, a former reality television star, an artist, and a model.

Stosz's modeling career began in her 20s, when she briefly found work as an Amazon model, posing for themed photo shoots, often lifting or standing beside smaller men for fetish-driven content.

"I don't think I would be a model if I wasn't so tall," she revealed. "I'm just being real. I'm reasonably good-looking and average size, besides being six foot nine. That extreme makes me approachable in a good way."

The gigs were well-paying and exposed her to a specific niche fanbase. However, the work soon became unfulfilling. Stosz said:

"I made some good money. I had some interesting experiences, but ultimately, it was not creatively fulfilling for me at all. It became very boring. It's all the same thing."

Her time in modeling abruptly ended when a photoshoot turned physically dangerous. During a lift-and-pose session with a smaller male model, Stosz lost her balance, fell, and broke her ankle.

That injury cut her modeling career short, but it also marked a turning point. With modeling behind her, she shifted focus toward creative expression that felt more meaningful.

In 2018, Stosz took part in a juried group exhibition at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride, Colorado. Her show, titled "Regular Sized Fruits," was featured during the town's Art Walk, an event open to public voting for a "people's choice" award.

"Get dressed up (or don't) to walk around and slurp art with your eyes and soul, and drink free wine," she playfully wrote on Facebook. Her work, though visually abstract and vibrant, subtly echoed the themes of body, perception, and identity that have shaped her life.

Her growing confidence and distinct voice — visually and personally — then opened the door to broader exposure. In 2019, she gained wider visibility after appearing on "House of Extraordinary People," a British reality television show that brought together nine individuals with physically unique traits.

Still, being so visible took a toll.

The show, which followed the cast living under one roof, introduced her story to an international audience. Her striking height, alongside her candor and humor, made her a standout. That visibility gave Stosz a new perspective on what it meant to be different in a world where many strive to be noticed.

"A lot of people put a lot of effort into standing out, and they really want that, and they don't have it. So I feel blessed to have that," she explained.

That sense of confidence has also carried into her personal life. In 2016, Stosz was in a long-term relationship with Sean Webb. Webb, who stood at six foot four, was shorter than Stosz by five inches, and the couple often turned heads when they were out together. He shared:

"We do get attention. We get a lot of attention when we walk around. It's good attention from my perspective."

He admired her strength and self-possession, saying, "The height is a wonderful thing and it's attractive to me, but to know who she is is a whole other thing that's bigger than her size."

Still, being so visible took a toll. Strangers frequently approached her with intrusive questions. Some asked if she was a man; others resorted to clichés like "How's the weather up there?"

Stosz tried to let it roll off her back, but the stares and comments sometimes made everyday outings emotionally draining. "I can be the 'bigger person,' but it does make it hard to go outside sometimes," she admitted. "I feel sad for them in reality, on a day to day."

In recent years, however, Stosz has come to embrace her physicality. "It took me a long time because I didn't feel as comfortable as a girl [because of] statements like 'don't be big and don't be challenging,'" she said.

For much of her youth, society told her to shrink herself — not just physically, but emotionally and socially as well. She was told to downplay her strength and minimize her presence. Now, she sees those messages for what they were — limiting and harmful.

"It is not good for a lot of people's mental health to fit into a box. Now, I'm going to just embrace it — those messages are not true," Stosz declared. She wears her uniqueness with pride, voicing:

"I really feel good. I feel strong. I feel beautiful. I don't worry as much what people think about me walking down the street."

Her advice to other women is firm and thoughtful: "Try not to care what other people think. Your value is not based on your appearance. Try not to let that feeling of not feeling beautiful enough affect you because it's not true."

It's a message that clearly resonates. On social media, Stosz's comment sections reflect the lasting impression she left on others. One netizen commented, "You are beautiful and amazing" on one of her posts, while another added, "Yes, you are different. That's what makes you better than the rest." Sometimes, the reaction is just pure awe, reading, "Oh WOW."

Whether through bold self-expression, abstract artwork, or unapologetic visibility, Stosz continues to challenge expectations and redefine beauty on her own terms. From bullied schoolgirl to viral icon, her journey has been anything but ordinary — but for Stosz, standing tall has always been the only way forward.