‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Tuesday 14 August 2012
As a schoolgirl, Caroline Stillman hit the headlines after she was bullied over her incredible 6ft 4 frame. She was forced to quit school after the torment made her ill and her confidence hit rock bottom.
Seven years on, aged 20, she’s finally accepted her height and, after attracting the attention of a modelling scout, she’s realised being tall has its advantages.
Caroline, from Leicestershire, says: “I’ve definitely got back my confidence. People are always complimenting me on my height and say I should model. When I was young, kids were so mean and boys didn’t look at me. I never thought anyone would call me model material – or sexy!”
Closer first spoke to Caroline in 2006, when she revealed school bullies had made her life hell. She was born with Marfan’s syndrome – a condition that causes the connective tissue in the body, like ligaments or joints, to grow unusually large, which also puts a strain on the heart.
The condition runs in Caroline’s family, with her mum, Sarah, 53, being 6ft, and brother Sam, 24, 6ft 7. Her dad, Bill, 54, who’s 5ft 10, and sister Emily, 26, who’s 5ft 9, are both unaffected.
Caroline says: “I know I could pass on the condition to children of my own – and I worry they’d be bullied – but I’d tell them to be proud about their height.”
As a young child, long-limbed Caroline was happy to stand head and shoulders above her classmates, but when she went to secondary school aged 11, she became a target for bullies.
She recalls: “They called me ‘giant’ and ‘giraffe legs.’ I felt humiliated and didn’t have any friends. I’d cry every day and hid away in my bedroom a lot.
“Every night after school, I’d get MSN messages saying horrible things – I felt I couldn’t escape the bullies even at home.”
Aged 13, she was already 6ft 4 and, as the bullying continued, it became violent. She says: “Two girls pinned me to a table and stuck chewing gum in my hair – I tried to laugh it off but, when I got home, I told my dad who went into school to complain.”
A month on, Caroline was so scared of going to school she was vomiting in the mornings and was signed off sick by a doctor due to stress. She also needed counselling.
She was home-schooled for a year, then enrolled at a new school. Although she still hated her looks, the pupils accepted her size and she made friends.
Then, aged 16, Caroline began a media diploma at college and her self-esteem improved. She says: “I felt more independent and that’s when I grew into my looks. My friends taught me about make-up and, on nights out, I started to get compliments from lads – especially about my long legs. My confidence grew quickly – the only thing that still bothered me was that I could never find pretty shoes in size 11.”
Size 12 Caroline, who has 36D-cup boobs, now studies footwear design in London and wants to design shoes for girls with bigger feet. And the student – who split with her first boyfriend in June after four months together – has even been approached by a scout looking for models for a sportswear collection. She adds: “The scout said I was the perfect height. I was nervous at first, but now I’m definitely considering it. I’m proud of my height – I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
By Alison Rennie
Read more real life stories:
Posted by carobella
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Just wanted people to know that my story was meant to inspire other girls and show them that they can come through bullying and find confidence again i didn't want to sound arrogant about men noticing me and my career is going to be making shoes for tall girls, not modelling, i mentioned that i had been asked to model because i want other tall girls to see the great possibilities for them. Love from Caroline x
Posted 15/08/2012 16:16:18
Posted by carobella
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Just wanted people to know that my story was meant to inspire other girls and show them that they can come through bullying and find confidence again i didn't want to sound arrogant about men noticing me and my career is going to be making shoes for tall girls, not modelling, i mentioned that i had been asked to model because i want other tall girls to see the great possibilities for them. Love from Caroline x
Posted 15/08/2012 16:16:51
Posted by sugar sweet
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
i don't think anyone reading that article would accuse you of coming across as arrogant after what you've been through! so you should be proud of your lovely long legs and pretty face
i think what your thinking of doing with shoes is brilliant as high street shops just don't stock nice shoes in larger sizes and i think you will make a success of that as you obviously have with your life and overcame the disgusting bullies
wonder what there doing now .................................................probably nothing near as exciting as you!
Posted 16/08/2012 10:14:32
Posted by carobella
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
thanks thats very sweet of you i was just worried that i had come across in the wrong way to people. Can't wait to start making my shoes hopefully it all goes well and you shall see them in the next few years.
thanks for the lovely comment.
Posted 16/08/2012 10:39:07
Posted by geenie123
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
You havent come across as arrogant in the sligthest way if anything youve ocme across as a strong confident woman with high ambition!! Great story. Best of luck with your footwear designing
Posted 16/08/2012 12:19:58
Posted by Oxforddreamer
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Hi, Caroline.
I'm 13 and have been bullied all the way through year eight for being posh and a geek.
Reading your story made me think that year nine may be better - I hope they stop what they do to me. I get kicked by boys and called names by other girls because I haven't had my first boyfriend, am a nerd and don't like 'cool' music.
I have recently discovered who my real friends are and couldn't be happier; I hope year nine is better!
You really deserve this success, you're gorgeous and seem lovely.
Recently I have been having the last life, I am a young writer and am getting signed up by a writing agency - I'm ecstatic!
Wishing you every success as a model and designer,
Annabelle Penhaligon, aged 13 from Cornwall.
Posted 18/08/2012 21:37:27
Posted by carobella
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Gosh i cant believe your only 13 you sound so grown up !! Trust me everyone in your class is jealous of how grown up you are and the fact that you know exactly what you want to be and that you are good at something ! Don't ever bring yourself down to their level, keep doing what your doing cause it sounds like your gonna be very successful and the fact that you already know what you want to do at such a young age is amazing !! Keep your head up when they are being nasty to you and know that they must all have lots of issues if they are having to make themselves feel better by doing that to you ! Thank you so much for your message its nice to know that i've helped you!!! Caroline xx
Posted 19/08/2012 22:32:09
Posted by fixxup
RE: ‘Men fancy me now – I want to be a supermodel’
Well done Caroline. You don't come over as arrogant at all. I was never bullied at school so don't know what it is like, but can empathize with you. Everyone in life has had at least a couple of situations where they feel victimized and that is bad enough, never mind it being constant.
The fact you suffered so much when you were younger is sad to hear. On the plus it looks as though its made you a stronger person, you look happy in your picture (and it doesn't look forced).
Its inspirational for young people to read this and see that even though you didnt have the best start your turning it into a positive thing.
There are a couple of clinical trials running in drug development for better management of Marfan syndrome. Hopefully there will be some promise in that.
Keep pursuing your dreams and remember if people werent there for you during the hard stuff then they dont deserve to be part of your successes. Ciaran x
Posted 22/08/2012 13:53:40