Paulo and Katyucia: Shortest Married Couple

Paulo Gabriel da Silva Barros and Katyucia Lie Hoshino, a Brazilian couple, hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s shortest married couple. Barros, 31, stands at 90.28 cm (35.54 in), while Hoshino, 28, is 91.13 cm (35.88 in) tall. They met in 2006 and married in 2016. “We may be short, but we have big hearts and lots of love for each other and everyone in our lives. Our life isn’t without its challenges, but we are happy to tackle these challenges together,” the couple told Guinness World Records.

Their love story began on the now-defunct social media platform Orkut. Barros was immediately attracted to Hoshino, but it took time for her to reciprocate. They chatted online for years before meeting in person on December 20, 2008, and began dating soon after. They maintained a long-distance relationship for four years, meeting every few months. In 2012, Hoshino moved from Londrina to Barros’ town, Itapeva.

The couple married in 2016 and were recognized by Guinness as the shortest couple to marry. “We are happy to be part of Guinness World Records Day and have our unique record celebrated. We hope our record encourages people to look past physical differences and treat everyone equally,” Hoshino said.

Barros and Hoshino’s marriage exemplifies love’s triumph over societal barriers. They both faced significant challenges growing up, including bullying due to their height. Barros, a government employee, couldn’t walk until he was 21. He used a child’s tricycle for mobility in his late teens and switched to a four-wheeler at 20. In 2008, he learned to walk with orthopedic boots and vowed never to use a child’s bike again. Hoshino, a beauty salon owner, and Barros often attract attention in public. Despite these adversities, their love helps them embrace each other and face challenges together.

Re-reported from the article originally published in She the People.