Our height can influence our emotional state of mind, according to studies. As it turns out, people who were made to feel shorter experienced more vulnerability and a greater sense of paranoia. Our featured heroine has probably never felt such paranoia in her life, as her height is really outstanding, but she has had a lot of other obstacles to overcome on her way to happiness. We’d love for you to read the fascinating story of Erika Ervin and find out how she lives with a physical feature that makes her stand out from the crowd.

Erika felt that she was “different” at an early age.

Erika’s struggle with herself and the people who surrounded her began in childhood. She felt she was different when she was 5 years old, and by the age of 7, she realized that it was her male gender that was a huge issue for her. In an interview, she confessed that when she looked in the mirror she had a strong desire to turn into a girl. All of her friends back then were girls, and she absolutely adored the toys intended for girls and the way more feminine names sounded.

In her interview, she recalled, “I believed in magic back then — haha! I loved angels and dragons at that age and wanted one to visit me and be my protector, like in the movie, Pete’s Dragon. Angels and dragons are similar beings in comparative mythologies. None came to help me.”

Her father never accepted her and she had a really tough relationship with him right up to the moment when her mom finally divorced the abusive man.

Her way to self-acceptance began with her gender transition.

Erika transitioned from male to female in 2004, and this was a dream come true for her, but it didn’t come without great loss. None of her family members supported her and she ultimately was left all alone, without any help or support from those dearest to her, including her brother. But she never gave up, and over the years, she was able to build a huge, supportive network of people from all over the world who praised her, understood her, and never judged her for her choices.

Today, she is an avid advocate for LGBT rights, abused children, and those who have HIV. She’s also a huge motivator for all people who have lost trust in themselves.

She said, “Every young woman deserves a flowering time. Friends and family support are really important, so be patient when you come out to your loved ones. Love yourself. Be cautious with what you see in the mirror, and be kind to yourself. Say to yourself, ’I deserve love.’ Self-acceptance is one of the most important factors in your transition and your mental well-being. Have fun and celebrate your life. Be safe out there.”