Love can teach many things: happiness, perseverance, kindness. Most of all, it reminds us every single day that you cannot choose who you fall in love with – and that’s the beauty of it.
James and Chloe Lusted have been married since 2016. They are based in the UK, come from the same hometown and, when they talk about how they first met, they can’t help but smile.
James, 33, works as an actor and a presenter while Chloe, 27, is a teacher.
Together, on 2 June 2021, they broke the record for the greatest height differential of a married couple (different sexes/taller woman).
With James standing at 109.3 cm (3ft 7 in) and his wife Chloe being 166.1 cm (5ft 5.4 in), the couple has 56.8cm – almost 2 ft (1ft, 10 in) – between them.
“Being 3 ft 7 is tricky sometimes. But I can do everything you can do, just in a different way.”
James has one of the rarest types of dwarfism: Diastrophic Dysplasia – a genetic disorder that affects bones and cartilage development.
Because of his dwarfism, James doubted that he would ever get married. However, he wanted to live his life to the fullest.
“I came to a point where I had to say to myself that dwarfism doesn’t own me, I own my dwarfism. I just wanted to be the same as everyone else and live my life in a big way, in a little body” – James Lusted
In 2012, shortly after James had carried the Olympic torch through his hometown, some friends introduced him to Chloe.
Chloe’s type had always been, according to her, taller men. However, that changed when she met and fell in love with James.
“Honestly, I did have fears about how people would react,” she admits.
“I definitely think there is someone out there for everyone. Perhaps not who you would imagine.”
Their romance speaks to a thousand couples in the world, being heart-warmingly simple in its extraordinary strength.
They met at the local pub while Chloe was still studying in Cardiff and, soon after, they started facing the difficulties of a long-distance relationship.
Despite the apprehension surrounding the possible challenges of their relationship, especially regarding how others might treat them, they officially became a couple at the end of 2013.
Seven months later, Chloe and James travelled to a lake in north Wales. For this trip, James had a plan and a ring in the top pocket of his jacket.
With the beautiful lake scenery as a backdrop, James got down on one knee – something that, despite the difficulties of his condition, he always wanted to do – and proposed to Chloe, who happily accepted.
“Our love story has taught us and taught others that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and just to love the person no matter who they are. I don’t think you can choose who you fall in love with.” – Chloe Lusted
The happy and record-breaking couple have now been married for five years and have a two-year-old daughter named Olivia.
