Born on 16 December 1993 in Nagpur, central India, Jyoti was of average stature until she reached the age of five, according to her mother, Ranjana. However, at that point it became evident that her growth was being hampered by some kind of disorder. It subsequently emerged that she has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, and will never grow beyond a certain height.
From the age of four, Jyoti attended school alongside regular-sized children, although she was provided with a desk and chair more appropriate for her diminutive size. She first came to the attention of the wider world back in 2009, when she appeared on Fuji TV’s Bikkuri Chojin 100 Special No.2. Measured by doctors on the show, she was found to be just 61.95 cm (2 ft) tall, confirming her as the Shortest living teenager (female). Remarkably, at just 5.4 kg (12 lb), she weighed only 4 kg (9 lb) more than her birth weight.
Jyoti was just 15 at the time, but even then her bubbly personality was clear for all to see. Like lots of teenage girls, she loved her fashion and make-up. And she harboured ambitions to become an actress. Indeed, her new-found celebrity was already helping to pave her way. Later in 2009, she appeared in a video for a song by Bhangra star Mika Singh, and was featured in the Channel 4 documentary Bodyshock, in an episode entitled ‘Two Foot Tall Teen’.
