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A 23-year-old woman who is looking for love while stuck in the body of an eight-year-old has said she's 'still open to matchmaking' - despite the furore surrounding her recent dating. Shauna Rae, from Pennsylvania, is 3 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighs just 50 pounds after her growth was stunted following brain cancer treatment as a child. She has previously been candid about the unique dating struggles she has faced as a result of her condition, once revealing her parents' fears that she would attract people who like children because of her childlike appearance.

A 23-year-old woman who is looking for love while stuck in the body of an eight-year-old has said she’s ‘still open to matchmaking’ – despite the furore surrounding her recent dating. Shauna Rae, from Pennsylvania, is 3 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighs just 50 pounds after her growth was stunted following brain cancer treatment as a child. She has previously been candid about the unique dating struggles she has faced as a result of her condition, once revealing her parents’ fears that she would attract people who like children because of her childlike appearance. 

Her most recent relationship with Welshman Dan Swygart, 26, caused uproar; critics branded him a 'creep' and accused him of only being attracted to her 'because she looks like a kid.' He hit back at the haters while admitting him and Shauna Rae have decided they're better off as friends - and in a recent episode of her TLC reality series I Am Shauna Rae, the star said she was 'still open to matchmaking' as she continued to date. She can be seen getting ready for a blind date with a new match, while admitting she had a 'bunch of worries.' The reality star is then driven to her upcoming date by her step father and sister - until she discovers that her date has cancelled. She explains to the camera that her date 'got cold feet,' adding: 'I was relieved when he cancelled. It just kind of showed all of these characteristics I don't want in a person in my life.'

Her most recent relationship with Welshman Dan Swygart, 26, caused uproar; critics branded him a ‘creep’ and accused him of only being attracted to her ‘because she looks like a kid.’ He hit back at the haters while admitting him and Shauna Rae have decided they’re better off as friends – and in a recent episode of her TLC reality series I Am Shauna Rae, the star said she was ‘still open to matchmaking’ as she continued to date. She can be seen getting ready for a blind date with a new match, while admitting she had a ‘bunch of worries.’ The reality star is then driven to her upcoming date by her step father and sister – until she discovers that her date has cancelled. She explains to the camera that her date ‘got cold feet,’ adding: ‘I was relieved when he cancelled. It just kind of showed all of these characteristics I don’t want in a person in my life.’

Instead, Shauna Rae, her step father, and her sister spend the evening bowling together, with the star saying: 'Even though it was supposed to be a date, I probably enjoyed it better this way with my family then I would with a complete stranger.' She added: 'I'm still open to the matchmaking situation, it really depends on if the second guy cancels.' The 23-year-old recently connected with 26-year-old Dan Swygart, and their meet-up was documented in an episode of her TLC reality series. But after Dan appeared in the show, he was bombarded with backlash from people who questioned his motives, and called the pairing 'weird' and 'disturbing' due to her 'childlike appearance.' He hit back at critics, while admitting they've decided they're better off as friends rather than romantic partners.

Instead, Shauna Rae, her step father, and her sister spend the evening bowling together, with the star saying: ‘Even though it was supposed to be a date, I probably enjoyed it better this way with my family then I would with a complete stranger.’ She added: ‘I’m still open to the matchmaking situation, it really depends on if the second guy cancels.’ The 23-year-old recently connected with 26-year-old Dan Swygart, and their meet-up was documented in an episode of her TLC reality series. But after Dan appeared in the show, he was bombarded with backlash from people who questioned his motives, and called the pairing ‘weird’ and ‘disturbing’ due to her ‘childlike appearance.’ He hit back at critics, while admitting they’ve decided they’re better off as friends rather than romantic partners. 

'Me and Shauna are just good friends, we're getting to know each other,' he explained in a previous Instagram video. 'But I think it's absolutely disgusting, the attitude of some people. She's been through so much in life. She survived cancer as a child, she's always felt different and was treated different by society. How dare you take away her right to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else? Who are you to say that she can't have that? I am absolutely disgusted by some people's attitudes towards her and my friendship with her.' Dan previously explained that he reached out to Shauna after watching the first season of her show and becoming 'inspired by her emotional strength.' He then sent her some flowers and a card saying: 'Go live your best life. Wishing you all the happiness you deserve.' They eventually started messaging on social media, before he flew out to her hometown, where they went on a series of dates, all of which, were showcased in the show. In Dan's Instagram video, he admitted that 'despite all the hate,' some 'amazing things' have come out of his appearance in the series.

‘Me and Shauna are just good friends, we’re getting to know each other,’ he explained in a previous Instagram video. ‘But I think it’s absolutely disgusting, the attitude of some people. She’s been through so much in life. She survived cancer as a child, she’s always felt different and was treated different by society. How dare you take away her right to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else? Who are you to say that she can’t have that? I am absolutely disgusted by some people’s attitudes towards her and my friendship with her.’ Dan previously explained that he reached out to Shauna after watching the first season of her show and becoming ‘inspired by her emotional strength.’ He then sent her some flowers and a card saying: ‘Go live your best life. Wishing you all the happiness you deserve.’ They eventually started messaging on social media, before he flew out to her hometown, where they went on a series of dates, all of which, were showcased in the show. In Dan’s Instagram video, he admitted that ‘despite all the hate,’ some ‘amazing things’ have come out of his appearance in the series.

He said he hoped others who may be suffering from a disability could watch it and feel hopeful that they too could form a 'connection with someone.' 'I'm so proud to have had that positive impact on the world,' Dan continued. 'So many people who have disabilities or they have friends and family who have disabilities have reached out and said, "Thank you for showcasing that." It's OK to build a connection of friendship with someone who's different by society standards. It's given so many people hope that despite them being different, they too can find an amazing friendship and connection with someone.' Pictured: Shauna as a baby.

He said he hoped others who may be suffering from a disability could watch it and feel hopeful that they too could form a ‘connection with someone.’ ‘I’m so proud to have had that positive impact on the world,’ Dan continued. ‘So many people who have disabilities or they have friends and family who have disabilities have reached out and said, “Thank you for showcasing that.” It’s OK to build a connection of friendship with someone who’s different by society standards. It’s given so many people hope that despite them being different, they too can find an amazing friendship and connection with someone.’ Pictured: Shauna as a baby. 

During the episode, Shauna gushed about how 'similar' she and Dan - who loves traveling and is often jetting off on various vacations - were, explaining that it was his adventures that 'piqued her interest.' The pair spent their first day together at an aquarium and escape room, and were joined by her 18-year-old half-sister, Rylee. In another part of the show, Dan came over to her house to make sushi rolls. She introduced him to her mother and stepfather, Patty and Mark Schrankel, who soon started interrogating him. Patty asked him things like how often they talk, which Dan said was almost daily at that point, and what his intentions were. Although he looked visibly uncomfortable during the questioning, Dan was open about how he wanted to take their daughter around the world with him on his travels.

During the episode, Shauna gushed about how ‘similar’ she and Dan – who loves traveling and is often jetting off on various vacations – were, explaining that it was his adventures that ‘piqued her interest.’ The pair spent their first day together at an aquarium and escape room, and were joined by her 18-year-old half-sister, Rylee. In another part of the show, Dan came over to her house to make sushi rolls. She introduced him to her mother and stepfather, Patty and Mark Schrankel, who soon started interrogating him. Patty asked him things like how often they talk, which Dan said was almost daily at that point, and what his intentions were. Although he looked visibly uncomfortable during the questioning, Dan was open about how he wanted to take their daughter around the world with him on his travels.

'I think Dan would be a really good match for Shauna because he's very smart [and] adventurous,' her stepfather told the camera afterwards. 'Shauna's smart but not very adventurous. I think he could pull her out of [her] comfort zone but still make her safe.' 'I'm not really irritated by my family when they bring up those future questions,' Shauna said. 'I haven't talked about it with Dan. I'm kind of letting it go as it may, but it's nice, kind of try to see if he can answer it. I haven't actually really thought about if Dan and I were in a relationship and how that would look. I assume that we would probably try long distance, but I've been in a long-distance relationship and it's not my cup of tea.' After the episode was released, many people flooded the comment section on YouTube with their thoughts about Dan and Shauna's relationship, with some people calling it 'concerning,' 'uncomfortable,' 'creepy,' and 'not right.'

 ‘I think Dan would be a really good match for Shauna because he’s very smart [and] adventurous,’ her stepfather told the camera afterwards. ‘Shauna’s smart but not very adventurous. I think he could pull her out of [her] comfort zone but still make her safe.’ ‘I’m not really irritated by my family when they bring up those future questions,’ Shauna said. ‘I haven’t talked about it with Dan. I’m kind of letting it go as it may, but it’s nice, kind of try to see if he can answer it. I haven’t actually really thought about if Dan and I were in a relationship and how that would look. I assume that we would probably try long distance, but I’ve been in a long-distance relationship and it’s not my cup of tea.’ After the episode was released, many people flooded the comment section on YouTube with their thoughts about Dan and Shauna’s relationship, with some people calling it ‘concerning,’ ‘uncomfortable,’ ‘creepy,’ and ‘not right.’

In a video shared to Instagram back in December after the episode first aired, Dan defended his date with the reality star, insisting that he built his relationship with her over 'who she is an individual,' rather than her appearance. 'It's very important to remember that Shauna is an incredible 23-year-old woman who has a disability,' he said. 'So as you are building a connection with her, it's important to acknowledge her disability and look past that and build it with who she is an individual. She's this incredible, inspiring 23-year-old woman who just happens to be a little bit short.' Dan also admitted that he knew he was going to get 'some hate' when he agreed to appear on the series, but called it 'absolutely disgusting' and 'dehumanizing' to Shauna.

In a video shared to Instagram back in December after the episode first aired, Dan defended his date with the reality star, insisting that he built his relationship with her over ‘who she is an individual,’ rather than her appearance. ‘It’s very important to remember that Shauna is an incredible 23-year-old woman who has a disability,’ he said. ‘So as you are building a connection with her, it’s important to acknowledge her disability and look past that and build it with who she is an individual. She’s this incredible, inspiring 23-year-old woman who just happens to be a little bit short.’ Dan also admitted that he knew he was going to get ‘some hate’ when he agreed to appear on the series, but called it ‘absolutely disgusting’ and ‘dehumanizing’ to Shauna.

'As soon as you say that she can't have a real-world connection with someone else, you dehumanize her, which is absolutely disgusting,' he continued. 'She is a human being. She deserves to have relationships and connections with whoever she wants. And I think some people aren't emotionally mature enough to understand that you can have a deep connection based on personality rather than just on looks.' Shauna was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. She had surgery and underwent three years of chemotherapy - and while the treatment was successful, it made her pituitary gland - which monitors and regulates many bodily functions by producing hormones - almost dormant, stunting her growth. She was able to grow another eight inches with the help of synthetic hormone injections, but when she was 16, her doctor told her that her bones had fused and she wasn't going to grow anymore.

‘As soon as you say that she can’t have a real-world connection with someone else, you dehumanize her, which is absolutely disgusting,’ he continued. ‘She is a human being. She deserves to have relationships and connections with whoever she wants. And I think some people aren’t emotionally mature enough to understand that you can have a deep connection based on personality rather than just on looks.’ Shauna was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. She had surgery and underwent three years of chemotherapy – and while the treatment was successful, it made her pituitary gland – which monitors and regulates many bodily functions by producing hormones – almost dormant, stunting her growth. She was able to grow another eight inches with the help of synthetic hormone injections, but when she was 16, her doctor told her that her bones had fused and she wasn’t going to grow anymore. 

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