Cielo Lofranco may be a little person, but she definitely has the biggest heart to receive all this love and compassion despite her genetic condition. 

Dwarfism is a genetic or medical condition that results in a person being short in stature. However, that does not take away her physical mobility to do ordinary things, nor did her stature deter her from becoming a successful woman in the corporate world. 

Instead, she embraced this condition with all her heart. All thanks to the endless support and affection from her loved ones. 

Cielo Lofranco tells g.spot about an unforgettable experience that made her hit rock bottom, and how she found comfort in her own skin.

g.spot: What has your experience been like as a woman with a different body type?

CIELO: As a woman, I have experienced bullying, been called a lot of derogatory names, and even from childhood up until now I have been judged as a person because of my height.

g.spot: How have you overcome the negativity that you received over the years?

CIELO: So since I was young I have experienced all those bullying, feeling unaccepted. My family and friends have been so supportive of me , and with their acceptance, I have learned to love myself, accept who I am, and become a better person.

g.spot: Can you cite an unforgettable thing that happened to you?

One unforgettable experience is when I was in the church lining up for the communion and then the minister apparently did not allow me to take the communion because of my height

CIELO: It was already a few months after my first communion, and then what struck me the most was that I was in front of a lot of people lining up and I had to let my mom fight and really talk to the minister to allow me. Apparently, he still hesitated and he did not give me the opportunity to take the communion.

So when the Mass ended, we had to go to the priest and tell the priest about the incident. From there I realized I had a family—a strong and dependable family—who they are there to really protect me and really be proud of me. From there, I realized I am just an ordinary person—I am like any person in this world that needs to be respected and understood so that actually made me the person I am now, a strong and independent woman. 

g.spot: How have you achieved confidence in your own skin?

CIELO: Well, it’s more like having good support, not just within my family but with my friends and I’ve learned that I have strength like anyone else. From that strength, I could build myself and show that confidence to other people especially those like me.

In my college years, I did a thesis before about people like me and how their experiences affected the person they are right now. So from there, it made me realize that people or the environment is something that puts a big effect on our lives.

I am so proud that in my 20 plus years of living, I have had the greatest support from these great role models who built the person I am today. I learned a lot of things in this life and now, I need to also show the people around me and give that influence.

g.spot: What is your message of encouragement to women like you?

CIELO: To women like me, stay strong. Let the confidence form from yourself, from the people around you, and also from God because you have to understand that you have been made into this world to make a difference, to make a change, and to make a big impact.