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I always felt like a toddler playing dress up! | Source: Shutterstock
At first, we were both super confused, but then we understood: This nutso woman actually thought my sister was my mother! Yes, my sister did look older than she really was–at that point, she was one of the tallest in her class, and she had developed early, too–but I also looked way younger than nine. In fact, with my insanely short stature, round cheeks, and a lingering cushion of baby fat, I seriously looked like a baby.
Growing up looking younger than I really was wasn’t very fun. I’d go out to eat with friends and they’d offer me–only me–the kids’ menu. It was even worse when I’d go on a date with a guy and get offered the kiddie options. Oy! Or my friends would want to sneak into a rated-R movie, and know they couldn’t invite me along, because I’d blow their already precarious cover just by looking as young as I did. I hated it and wanted desperately to look older.
I teetered in platform shoes. I got “sophisticated” wire-rim glasses. I started painting on dark lipstick–and yet, nothing ever worked. The more I tried and tried to look older, the stupider and littler I felt.
My mom would tell me that “one day” I’d be thrilled to look younger than my real age–so I waited and waited for “one day,” but it never seemed to come. During college, cute guys would ask my friends if I was their little sister visiting for the day. Talk about sucksville.
That said, I’ve come to embrace some of the awesome things that come along with looking young. Not only can I fit into some of the cutest outfits in the kids’ section–but I can pull them off, too, since I don’t look too old for them. And, once I got over the embarrassment of being offered the kids’ menu, I realized that all the GOOD stuff is on that menu! Mac and cheese? For half the price? Oh HELL yes!
I was worried about being taken seriously when applying for jobs and stuff after college, but honestly? If you’re smart and can show that you know what you’re talking about in your field, it doesn’t matter how young you look. Yes, a few people have mistaken me for a college intern, but once they realize what I’m capable of and get to know me, they realize that these baby cheeks can be deceptive. And my mom was right. I think I’ll look AWESOME when I’m 80.
Do you look younger than your friends? Has anyone ever thought you were the little sister in the group? Tell me in the comments!
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I am 27 years old and I look MUCH younger than I am. I am most commonly confused for an 18 or 19-year old. I have a professional position and it is difficult to command respect in many situations. I dress professionally and wear make-up so I am doing all I can to look older. Perhaps even more frustrating to me now that I am 27 and still single is finding a relationship. I get approached by boys in undergrad, not men my age. I can’t date someone who is 21 but I also don’t get approached by a man my own age. This is very troubling to me and I believe it is because of my youthful appearance. Has anyone else dealt with dating while looking young? Any advice/encouragent would help!
I’m 15 and look way younger than I am, it gets really hard sometimes because everyone in my class looks way older than they are and top of that my friends jokingly make fun of short I am, what makes it worse is the fact that I’m skinny as well so none of my clothes fit properly which makes me look even younger. it feels like its getting worse as all my friends are starting to getting boyfriends and I don’t think any guy my age would want to go out with a girl who looks like she’s still in primary school.
I’m nearly sixteen and yet I look about eleven. It really frustrates me when people say that I will love looking young when I’m older and that some people would die to look ten years younger because when your in high school it’s not what you want. I’ve had several boys argue with my for ages because they don’t believe that I’m the same age as them and no one takes me seriously. It’s made me more shy than I feel I actually am. I wish people would understand that looking young isn’t all it seems. I hope I learn to accept it more as i get older.
I’m 30, I look between 18 and 22. I broke off with a recent date ‘cos he told me I look like a cherub. The early 20s crowd was nice to me until I told them I was 30….now I’m going to watch my back! When I start getting grey hairs I wonder if I’m going to bother to dye them or leave them in peace. I have always hated my chubby cheeks until recently but I can’t lose any weight, people tell me I’m skinny enough as it is. Men in their late 30s/early 40s are always disappointed to hear I’m in my 30s (why should I tell them specifically!). I know I have to be grateful to look young and I really admire the comments above where you girls (and boys) have made the best, and gained respect from your expertise and skills. I think it is important to be open about the age at the earliest opportunity – what do other people think?
I am 27 years old and get mistaken for 18-19 all the time. It really gets old. I can relate to you. I was recently on a date and he exclaimed that I looked 13. I have a very difficult time dating because of my young looks
I look young as well and it does suck. I graduated High School a year early so that doesn’t help either. I’m a 20 year old college junior and people mistake me for being anywhere from 12-15. It gets old sometimes. I always get passed up by the boys my age because I’m so tiny. I’m 5′, 94 lbs. and I’m lacking in the boob area. I just recently started wearing makeup in order to look a bit more my age and I wear heels when I go out in order to look taller. I’m hoping that someday this does pay off, but I know it won’t be until my college days are long over.
I have the same exact problem. I’m almost seventeen years old, and I’m a junior in high school. But I was mistaken for twelve! All the sophomores at my school always ask me if I need help finding a classroom. My only boyfriends have been at least 6 months older than me and I try everything to look just a little older. I cut my hair shorter, I wear push up bras and high heels. I’m not even that short, I am 5’5″, but everyone at my high school is really tall, so I look tiny in comparison. It doesn’t help that both of my best friends are younger than me, but they both look so much older and mature. Even though one is only about 5’0″, she gets mistaken for 19 and 20. I feel silly in comparison to them… And when I dress up, it’s worse. I look like Im just a little girl playing dress up and trying to put on her “mommy’s” makeup. My mom looks really young too (she is forty but everyone thinks she is 20-23) and I know I will love it later, but when my mom was my age she looked so much older and prettier than I do now and I just wish I didn’t have this problem.
I’m 14 and I have this problem. All of my friends say that I look like I’m my age but really, I don’t. I look like I’m 7! >.< The worst part about looking young and being really short (I'm only 4'10" btw) is that this boy in my class calls me shorty -.-" Seriously, man? He's my friend but sometimes it gets annoying but he says he just likes to tease me about it. And all the high schoolers always ask if I'm supposed to be at the middle school! It gets really annoying! But the good thing is, I have a friend who is only 4'9"! We're almost the same height and we have the same build so we always share clothes and stuff! And we always go shopping together because we wear the same size so it's easy to find stuff!
We always go to the girl's section because they have THE CUTEST clothes there! EVER. I've actually learned to love my baby face because when I'm 40 I'll be looking like I'm 21! Meanwhile, other people my age might look older than they really are! 
This post is PERFECT! Aha
xx
i’m 20 years old and i’m currently doing my second year in varsity. apparently i look 12.hahaha. i’m pretty short, with A cup boobs and a cute face. i’ve had instances myself where i went out with my dad and little sister and i got offered the kiddies meal. one time i was working as a brand ambassador and i had a guy stop and tell me whoever hired me should be arrested since it was obvious i was under age. *sigh…i’m slowly learning to accept myself as i am but i still have those days when i just want to crawl under rock everytime i walk with my tall boyfriend and i can tell people think he’s too old for me.
I guess I just never understood the strange fascination we have with looking decades younger. Age is supposed to bring greater knowledge and experience, and, although many will not admit it, one DOES become wiser as one ages. Anyway, that aside, most people want to look in their twenties–NOT like a child.
I suppose I cannot be too annoyed when this (thankfully rarely) happens to me, because in Hollywood, actors in their mid-twenties have been used for years to portray teenagers. So I probably do look like the average 26 year old, and people who may not be around many people under 30 just think I look like an actress who is portraying a teenager. Still, I won’t say that *someday* I might appreciate my appearance. I really don’t see a good thing in looking young, naive, and inexperienced.
OMG this happens to me alot. I can tell some stories man. I remember back in freshman year when me my cousin and my friends would go out and boys would stop to talk they would by pass me thinking I was a little kid and exchange #’s with everyone else.
I hated that. Even now I’m 21 no matter what I do to change my appreance people still see through it. Whats worst is they compare me to being 16 or 12. Sometimes I question is people don’t take me seriously because of my young looks I have baby doll eyes,I’m average height, and I do wear alot of colors at times. But that dosen’t make me soft, besides some guys like adorableness.
I have the same problem. No buying beer with my friends (I’m a teetotaller, but I like hanging out with them). No adult films.
Now I’m 19 but I look like 16. I have to show my ID everywhere. But I don’t mind. The only thing about looking like a child, in my case, is that I don’t really take serious guys – I never think they could be into me because (in my mind) it’s like being a pedophile.
I don’t really know when I’ll take guys serious. And when will they take me serious. Not just a little goofy tomboy you should protect.
Ha . im 15 and look like im nine -.- People dont believe we when i say that i’m 15 . && it doesnt help when im applying for jobs ! One girl at my school calls me baby face ._.
I have the same problem all my friends are younger than me by a year im 16 and i still look like im 12 it gets really annoying because my best friend is younger but looks 17 so i feel like i wont get noticed as much by guys because i look so young
I look young too, but I’ve got ages from 10-19. It just depends on what I’m wearing and how I act, I think. I’m 14.
I have always had the same problem. I’m 30 but look 16, most people still call me kiddo. I get carded for movies and lottery tickets, If I smoked I probably would with that too. People can’t believe I’m married. When I wear makeup it makes me look a little older, but for the most part I am short with chubby cheeks, I have a doll face. I hate it some days but then I think of it this way, people pay a lot of good money to look younger, but people like us don’t have to we have our own built in youth cerium.