I’m the only little person in my family and I don’t look like parents at all, I’m unique
A TRAITORS winner opens up about her journey to dwarfism and shares adorable photos from her childhood.
Meryl Williams, 27, has achondroplasia, where your torso is average length but your legs and arms are shorter.
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Speaking about her condition on social media, Meryl said: “I was misdiagnosed numerous times after birth before being diagnosed with dwarfism.
“Type, achondroplasia. It makes my arms and legs a lot shorter than an average person.
“I started learning to walk later, at 19 months.
“My family had never heard of dwarfism and had to try to find the best way to help me.”
The social media influencer, based in Edinburgh, added: “I loved South Africa but it was in my best interests that we moved to Britain.
“My mother and I moved to Britain, leaving my whole family behind.
“I’m the only small person in my family. My parents are both of average height.
“Because of my condition, I don’t look like my parents.
“The world was not made for me. I have to adapt myself to the world.
“It’s a struggle, but it makes me unique. I’m so lucky to have that [my] people around me.”
We told last summer how Meryl, who won a share of £101,000 for winning The Traitors as part of The Faithful, is feeling “more confident than ever” after having a forehead reduction.
The former call center worker said she had the procedure because her forehead had always been a “big insecurity”.
The operation, which can cost more than £5,000, involves moving the hairline lower on the forehead and removing excess skin and bone.
Meryl says she has had surgery before, but this is the first time she has had it done for cosmetic reasons.
And while she doesn’t regret the procedure, she worried she might develop resistance to it.
What is achondroplasia?
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that affects bone growth, resulting in dwarfism.
It is the most common form of dwarfism and occurs in approximately 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 live births.
The condition is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene, which leads to abnormal growth of cartilage, especially in the long bones of the arms and legs.
This abnormal cartilage growth results in shortened bones, leading to the characteristic features of achondroplasia.
Although achondroplasia is a genetic condition, it tends to occur sporadically, meaning it is not usually inherited from parents who do not have the condition themselves.
Individuals with achondroplasia have a 50% chance of passing the condition on to their children if they have children with a partner who also carries the mutated gene.
She added, “I was a little worried that other people would criticize me for trying to play with something I was born with, but it was just a personal decision.”
Her condition doesn’t stop the star from wearing high street fashion either, as her grandmother is always on hand to tailor her Zara and Mango outfits.
She even customized Meryl’s dress for the National Television Awards.
Meryl, a former call center worker, won the BBC’s The Traitors after correctly guessing that a fellow contestant was a “traitor”.
She and fellow Faithfuls Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski took a share of the profits, allowing her to start a new career as an influencer.
She said: “Being part of The Traitors has completely changed my life. The money from the show allows me to do what I do.
“It has opened many doors and broadened my horizons.”