Lauren Ruotolo’s story is one of encouragement and ambition.
Lauren Ruotolo suffers from a rare disease that stunted her growth. Today Lauren is a hardworking and successful fashion lover who is only four-foot-two inches and holds her head high in an industry where women often measure in at five feet – eight inches (or more).
Ruotolo was born with McCune-Albright Syndrome, a mysterious and rare genetic disease which includes symptoms such as premature puberty in girls, short legs due to deformities and and bones that can be easily broken and bruised.
Because of her rare condition, Lauren had to make a decision at just five years old to either choose a life in a wheel chair or to walk with crutches. She chose the latter.
“I was just 5 when my mom and dad guided me through one of the biggest decisions I’d ever have to make: whether to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life or to walk with crutches. (I’d been walking on my own up till that point, but my bones were getting weaker, and I kept falling and breaking my hip.) I chose to walk.”
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Despite her small stature, Lauren has overcome some big obstacles and has worked her way to a rewarding an enviable career in the fashion and entertainment industry. If this isn’t amazing enough, Lauren has navigated her way to success, dressed in her favorite fashion staple – high heels!
“I have bones that can be easily bruised and broken, and very short legs. But I make up for that by wearing the tallest, most fabulous high heels I can find. You don’t want to be in my way when I spot a pair of patent-leather 5-inch cork platform shoes at Neiman Marcus! ”
Every day, Lauren puts on a pair of fabulously high heels and lives life in the fast lane, juggling a jet-setting job, celebrity pals, and a pair of crutches.
Lauren Ruotolo
Lauren Ruotolo has many accomplishments to be proud of…
For starters, she is the Director of Entertainment Promotions at Hearst Magazines in New York City, where she is responsible for developing strategic key partnerships with TV & cable networks, music labels, and movie studios.
Lauren joined Hearst Magazines from TV Guide Magazine, where she was the Director of Consumer Marketing & Promotions.
Ruotolo’s first-person essay “Get Shorty,” which shared her philosophies on living with the rare genetic disorder McCune-Albright syndrome, was published in Marie Claire magazine in 2009, and was one of the most-responded to articles in Marie Claire.
She recently helped produce E!’s Style Network show about the inner workings at Marie Claire fashion magazine and is working on two one-hour specials with Scripps Networks for Esquire and The Food Network magazine.
Additionally, Ruotolo is on the advisory board of Glamour Gals, Love Our Children USA, and is an active member in the NY chapter of Women in Communications.
Her latest accomplishment is the release of her book: Unstoppable in Stilettos: A Girl’s Guide to Living Tall in a Small World in which she shares with her readers how she avoided the label of “disabled” through uniquely discovering who she really is and thus avoiding playing the label game.
Ruotolo discusses what it takes to be a little girl living in a big world and offers advice and encouragement for any woman of any age who is still finding her way.
Unstoppable in Stilettos: A Girl’s Guide to Living Tall in a Small World
You can meet Lauren in person – she is promoting her book in New York City at Barnes & Nobles Tribeca on November 3rd
* Time: 7pm
You can purchase Unstoppable Stilettos in advance at: