Trans Woman Who Was 6'5" Reveals How Much Her Height Shrank After Transition

A woman from Utah has shared how she lost 3 inches in height during her gender transition.

Shaye Scott, 39, underwent her medical transition three years ago, taking estrogen and undergoing facial feminization surgery in April 2023.

Scott's transition first gained public attention in a candid video she and her wife, Amanda, posted on social media, shedding light on the lesser-known effects of hormone therapy. The couple, who have been married for 13 years and share three children, navigated the complexities of Shaye's transition together, overcoming challenges rooted in their religious upbringing as Mormons.

"When I came out to Amanda in 2019, it was difficult due to our religious background. However, she has been incredibly supportive, and we decided to share our story to humanize transgender individuals for those who may not be familiar with our experiences," Scott told Newsweek.

Three years after the beginning of her transition, Scott made a shocking discovery—her height had changed. At 6 feet, 5 inches before starting her transition, Scott now stands at 6 feet, 2 inches and has gone down two shoe sizes.

Can Hormone Therapy Alter Your Height?

"Estrogen brings about changes in the soft tissues of the body—cartilage, tendons, and ligaments—that can result in minor changes in height," Scott said. "I was aware that some trans women reported changes in their height and shoe size after being on estrogen for several years, but I wasn't sure what to expect personally."

Changes in shoe size and height during hormone therapy have been documented. These changes are not due to actual bone change, but rather to changes in the ligaments and muscles of the feet and spinal column. While some individuals have reported losing 1 to 3 inches in height and a decrease in shoe size, the extent of these changes can vary from person to person.

One day, the couple were measuring their 5-year-old's height and got to wondering how much height, if any, Scott had lost.

Active on social media, they decided to make a video: "I thought, 'That could make for a fun video,' and so we filmed it quickly," Scott said. "My wife and I like to share moments from our lives that we hope will humanize transgender individuals for those who haven't had much exposure to us. We were surprised when the video got a lot of views, not only on TikTok, but also on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube."

On TikTok, the video was viewed over 3.2 million times, and has thousands of comments from people who were amazed.

"This is really so interesting," posted one commenter, while another wrote: "Oh wow! That's interesting! And she's gorgeous!"

Scott was pleased with the result, too, and said: "I am happy to be a bit shorter. Most of us just want to blend in and live a normal life. I still feel like I draw attention at 6 feet, 2 inches, but certainly less than I would have at 6 feet, 5 inches."