“I Friend-Zoned My 4ft Husband Because He Didn’t Look Like My Dream Man — But Marrying Him Was the Best Decision I Ever Made (Even Though Strangers Think Our Photos Are AI)”
When Anita Wing Lee first met Timothy Muttoo, romance was the last thing on her mind.
The Toronto-based entrepreneur and social media personality admits she initially “friend-zoned” Timothy because he didn’t fit her physical expectations. At just 4 feet (122 cm) tall due to a form of dwarfism, Timothy didn’t resemble the man Anita had always imagined she would marry.
“I honestly didn’t think I could be attracted to someone who wasn’t the kind of man I pictured,” Anita confessed in a now-viral video. “I thought love would come in a tall, handsome package — someone conventionally good-looking. But that wasn’t Tim.”
Despite this, she and Timothy developed a close friendship after meeting through mutual connections in 2021. Over time, what began as casual conversations blossomed into deep emotional connection — the kind that makes you question everything you thought you wanted.
“One day, I realized — he made me feel safe, understood, and fully myself. I had never experienced that with anyone before. And that was more important than height or appearance.”
Eventually, Anita opened her heart. The couple fell in love and were married in 2023.
Facing the World’s Reactions
Since sharing their journey on social media, the couple has faced both incredible support and unfortunate skepticism.
“People constantly ask if our photos are AI-generated,” Anita said. “Strangers comment things like, ‘This looks fake,’ or ‘This has to be Photoshop or Midjourney.’”
Some have even accused them of being actors in a staged relationship. But for Anita, those reactions only underscore the problem she herself once struggled with: society’s narrow idea of what love and relationships are supposed to “look like.”
“I used to be that person who judged by appearances. I get it. But I also know how much I would have missed out on if I had stayed trapped in that mindset.”
From Prejudice to Purpose
Timothy, who runs a tech and nonprofit company, and Anita, a former TV host turned content creator, are now using their platform to challenge societal standards and empower others to break free from stereotypes in love and life.
Anita often shares insights about their marriage, offering both humorous and heartfelt reflections on being in a relationship that defies expectations. She regularly posts videos titled things like, “Married to a Man Who’s 4ft Tall — Here’s What People Don’t See” and “What It’s Like Being Taller Than My Husband”.
“We laugh a lot. We get stared at sometimes. But the truth is, our life is full of joy. He’s the kindest, most emotionally intelligent man I’ve ever met.”
A Message to Dreamers
Anita wants her story to encourage others — especially women — to look beyond checklists and fantasies when it comes to choosing a partner.
“If you’re still waiting for ‘the one,’ be open to the idea that they might not look like you imagined. The person who truly loves you might come in a very different package — and that could be the most beautiful thing in the world.”
Their love story, far from being artificial, is a reminder that the most meaningful relationships often begin where our expectations end. In Anita’s words:
“Choosing Tim was the best decision of my life. And I almost missed it — because of something as shallow as height.”