Quick note first: the word “midget” gets used online, but it’s outdated and can hurt. I’ll say “little people” or “people with dwarfism,” since that’s respectful. Cool? Cool.
Why I signed up
I’m Kayla. I have dwarfism. I’m 4'1", love iced coffee, and I work remote, which makes meeting folks tricky. Big apps wore me out. Too many swipes. Too many “you’re so tiny!” DMs. I wanted a space where I didn’t have to explain my height every five minutes.
So I tried a niche dating site for little people. I used it for six weeks last spring in Seattle. I logged in most nights. I paid for one month after the free week.
If you’d like the blow-by-blow setup guide (photos I chose, first prompts I answered, and the wildest message I got), I spell it out in this longer piece on DateHotter: I tried a dating site for little people — here’s my take.
Setup felt simple, with one awkward bit
Signing up took about ten minutes. Email, a few photos, a short bio. There was a height field. That part felt… odd. I get why it’s there, but it made me pause. I wrote a clear bio anyway:
- Work-from-home writer
- Loves thrift stores
- Needs low tables or a booth when we meet
The distance slider was helpful. I set it to 100 miles. I also added a note about stairs and parking, which saved time later.
Week one: busy mailbox, a few red flags
My first week brought 37 likes. Most were within 50 miles. A few were fake-ish: one photo, no bio, “message me on a texting app now.” I reported three. The report button worked, and support replied the next day with a short note. Clean and calm.
Not gonna lie—seeing folks who “get it” felt good. No jokes about step stools. No weird energy about my height. Just normal: dogs, music, dumplings.
Real matches and real moments
I won’t use their real names here, but these are real dates.
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“Sam,” 33, barista. We messaged about latte art and bad sitcoms. We met at a neighborhood cafe. The counter was high, so I asked for a booth. The host didn’t blink. We split a blueberry scone. He said, “Thanks for putting access needs in your bio. That helped.” Small thing. Big relief.
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“Jess,” 29, teacher. We swapped pet pics and meal prep tips. We didn’t date long. She took a job in Oregon. We still send each other memes on Sundays. Friends count too.
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“Marco,” 35, photographer. We did a quick video chat before meeting. He showed me his film setup. I showed him my thrifted lamp. We both laughed when his cat walked on the keyboard. We didn’t click for romance, but he gave me a great camera shop rec.
Were there awkward parts? Yep. One match asked a lot about my height in the first five minutes. I said, “Happy to share later, but I’d like to know you first.” He eased up. If he hadn’t, I would’ve blocked him. Boundaries matter.
For more first-hand tips on keeping those boundaries solid while you swipe, you might like Dating While Disabled: My Real Takes, Real Dates.
What felt good
- People understood access needs without me teaching 101.
- Less rude comments than on big apps.
- Filters by distance and age worked fine.
- Reporting tools were easy to find.
- My mailbox felt calm, not chaotic. You know what? The quiet helped.
What bugged me
- Small pool outside big cities. Some nights, no new faces.
- A few profiles seemed inactive. I’d like a clear “last seen” badge.
- Photo crop tool was clunky. It cut my shoes in half. Twice.
- Messages beyond a short back-and-forth needed a paid plan pretty fast.
- No live photo verification. I’d feel safer with that.
For a broader look at your options, this guide to little people dating sites outlines several other platforms worth exploring. Some readers have asked me how a larger, secrecy-minded mainstream app compares to a niche site like the one I tried. For a deep dive into that world, check out this detailed Ashley Madison review — it walks you through the platform’s privacy tools, pricing tiers, and real-user experiences so you can gauge if its enormous but covert network is right for you. Curious how this mellow platform stacks up against something wilder? Another writer tested the opposite end of the spectrum in I Tried an Extreme Dating Site — Here’s What Actually Happened, and the contrast is… eye-opening.
If you’d like even more options on the go, DatingNews has a handy roundup of little people dating apps and sites that can expand your search radius. Southern California readers who don’t mind a more casual, location-based approach might also check out Adult Search Rosemead — it zeroes in on nearby singles in the San Gabriel Valley and offers quick chat tools so you can line up a low-pressure coffee or drinks date within minutes.
Little things that made a big difference
- Clear bios saved time. Mine said “booths over bar stools.” That cut out the “where should we meet?” loop.
- Setting a wider distance on weekends got me more matches. Folks in Tacoma popped up Sundays. Funny pattern, but real.
- Around Valentine’s week, I got more messages. Holiday bump is a thing, I guess.
If you’d like even more options on the go, DatingNews has a handy roundup of little people dating apps and sites that can expand your search radius.
Who this is for
- People with dwarfism who want fewer stares and more “normal first chat” energy.
- Allies who listen well and read profiles before asking personal stuff.
- Folks okay with a smaller pond that’s kinder, not louder.
Quick tips from my six weeks
- Use three photos: face, full-body, and you doing something you love.
- Write one line on access needs. It helps everyone plan.
- Do a short video chat before meeting. Saves time and stress.
- Pick meet spots with low tables or booths. Call ahead if you need.
- Trust your gut. If a chat feels off, leave. No speech needed.
My verdict
This niche site isn’t perfect. The app looks a bit old, and the pool is small. But it gave me real, decent dates and kinder chats. I’d say try it for a month. If you’re curious about another inclusive platform, DateHotter offers a free, quick signup that could widen your match pool. Keep a big app as a backup if you want more volume. For me, the peace of mind was worth the fee.
I went in tired. I left with two sweet dates, one new friend, and a better sense of what I want. That’s a win in my book.
— Kayla Sox