Short Girl Appreciation Day Date in the current year: December 21, 2024

The history of Short Girl Appreciation Day is murky, but the holiday must have originated sometime in the 2010s. The expression “short girl appreciation” began to gain momentum on social media platforms such as Twitter and Tumblr around 2010. People started using it to show their admiration for petite girls and women and to combat society’s obsession with what is thought to be perfect height and weight. The expression made its way into the mainstream media in the mid-2010s, and Short Girl Appreciation Day is believed to have been first observed around the same time.

But what is considered short height for a woman? The average height for women varies depending on the country. For example, women from Asian countries are usually shorter than women from European countries. The average female height in the United States is 5 ft 4 in, so “short girls” are those who stand less than 5 feet and 4 inches tall.

If you’re a short girl yourself, this is your day to shine! You can celebrate Short Girl Appreciation Day by treating yourself to something nice, throwing a shot girl appreciation party or simply having a fun day out with your girl friends, or sharing encouraging messages for other short girls on social media. If you’re of average height or tall, you can celebrate by letting the short girls in your life know how awesome they are and helping them out when they need it.

Short Girl Appreciation Day is also a great day to research short girls who’ve achieved great things. Here’s a very brief list of celebrities who many short girls look up to:

• Marie Kondo (4 ft 7 in): Japanese organizing consultant, author, and television host.
• Édith Piaf (4 ft 10 in): French singer.
• Dolly Parton (5 ft): American country singer-songwriter and actress.
• Kylie Minogue (5 ft): Australian singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Hayden Panettiere (5 ft): American actress and singer.
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (5 ft 1 in): American lawyer who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Ariana Grande (5 ft 1 in): American singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Eva Longoria (5 ft 1 in): American actress, producer, and director.
• Lady Gaga (5 ft 1 in): American singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Kristen Bell (5 ft 1 in): American actress.
• Anna Kendrick (5 ft 2 in): American actress and singer.
• Shakira (5 ft 2 in): Colombian singer and songwriter.
• Emilia Clarke (5 ft 2 in): British actress.
• Salma Hayek (5 ft 2 in): Mexican and American actress and film producer.
• Alyssa Milano (5 ft 2 in): American actress, producer, activist, and former singer.

These and many other women have proven that your height shouldn’t be an obstacle on your path to success.

Short Girl Appreciation Day also aims to raise awareness of the challenges that short women (and short people in general) face in their daily lives. These include limitations in certain physical activities and sports, difficulty reaching high shelves and navigating spaces designed for individuals of average height, finding clothes that properly fit, and being looked down upon (no pun intended!) in professional settings.