'Real-life Buddy the Elf': 6-foot-tall man reveals what it was like to grow up in family with dwarfism
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Most people who are below average wish they were six feet tall, but how often do you meet a man who is an impressive six feet tall and wishes he was a dwarf? Peet Montzingo of Los Angeles, California, fits the societal norm of what someone "should" look like, but in a family with parents and siblings who all suffer from dwarfism, he stands out!
Over the years, Peet has noticed that his family is treated differently in the world, but at home he fights his own battle to feel less guilty about fitting into a crowd. "Peet as a little boy, would say to me, 'Mom, I wish I was a dwarf,'" Vicki Montzingo tells TODAY. "He fit society's idea of what a person should look like, but at home he felt like the odd man out." Peet explained that he always "hated when people gawked at his family," adding that he was "always ready to fight someone" Over time, however, Peet's perception of society has changed, and he now advocates for people with dwarfism.
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Peet Montzingo had his own trials despite being six-foot-tall
Despite holding a tall stature, Pete explains that his journey, like any other, came with its own disadvantages. Pete and his brother Andrew, a third grader from South Carolina, had a strained relationship growing up. Andrew, who shared a passion for sports, resented Peet's size and indolence. The teacher said, "There was some jealousy because I love sports. We played little league together and he’d be the kid out in the left field picking daisies, and not competing." "And I’m like, 'Peet, you have the perfect build and you’re not even putting it to good use. Switch bodies with me,"' reported the source.
As they grew older, however, Andrew recognized that Peet also struggled with challenges. When the family went to amusement parks, they weren't allowed on every ride because of their height, but Peet felt bad about going alone. He was extremely sensitive to how his family was treated. "I definitely sensed anger and sadness from him when we were younger. The pointing, the stares and the name calling — the name calling really got to him," Andrew explained. However, now the brothers have reconciled and Peet spends his time creating content for his massive TikTok following where he helps advocate for those with dwarfism.
'Little Imperfections!'
Peet often tends to joke about being the "real life Buddy the Elf," to his 12.7 million followers. “I feel like I’ve finally found my place in the world,” Peet says. “I’m educating people about differences. I get so many messages that are like, ‘You’ve changed my perspective,’ ’Thank you for opening my eyes.’”
In 2022, Peet published a children’s book called “Little Imperfections: A Tall Tale of Growing Up Different.” Vicki claimed she's extremely proud of her son for helping fight for those suffering with Dwarfism differently. "We may look different, and we may move differently, but inside we’re all the same," she said.