Ngee Ann Poly Student, 17, Who Is 1.27m-Tall Says Commuters Rarely Offer Her MRT Seats; She Takes It As A Compliment

At 127cm tall, taking a crowded MRT train can be quite the challenge for Janice, 17.

The Ngee Ann Polytechnic student can't reach the overhead handrails, which means keeping her balance can be tricky when there aren't any seats available.

So what's her solution?

"But when the MRT is really, really crowded and I can't find a seat, I just clench every muscle in me to not fall," she joked.

And here's something that might surprise you.

Despite her height, Janice says fellow commuters don't usually offer her their seats.

But she's not upset about it.

In fact, she chooses to see it as a compliment.

"No, actually they don't. Actually, I tend to give up my seats more for the elderly 'cos I don't see anyone doing it. But I think it's a compliment though, I think as they don't see me as a different person, like a normal person!" she said.

Janice shared her experiences in an episode of Gen Z Crash Course, giving viewers a glimpse into what everyday life is like for her.

The teenager has a bone condition known as Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia (MED), which affects bone and joint development and contributes to her short stature.

But if you think Janice lets her height get in the way of having a sense of humour, think again.

In fact, she's got a rather cheeky response for children who stare at her in public.

"Sometimes when I go out, kids like to stare at me in public, and I wouldn't be offended, but sometimes if they stare for too long, I just like to tell them that I never ate my vegetables when I grew up, that's why I'm this short," she joked.

Well, that's certainly one way to get kids to eat their greens.

To make everyday life easier, Janice's family has made several adjustments to their home to accommodate her height.

Light switches are installed lower, while the kitchen counters and sink are positioned so she can use them comfortably.

But there's still one thing in the kitchen that's out of reach.

The freezer.

"It's quite high up there, I cannot reach the freezer at all. But I think it has its pros and cons, like I don't cook, so it really doesn't matter, and like I can't reach the ice cream, but it is a healthy lifestyle!" she joked.

Guess that's one way to resist the temptation of ice cream.

Her bathroom is also fitted with an adjustable showerhead and a customised ledge to keep her toiletries within reach.

Meanwhile, in her bedroom, most of her belongings are arranged so she can access them easily.

For anything that's a little too high, she has a trusty stool.

"This stool also serves to help me close the windows and everything, so I can do everything quite independently," she explained.

And while Janice sometimes needs her family's help reaching things that are too high, there was a time when she was the one lending a hand.

Or rather, reaching down.

"Actually, my grandparents used to live with us, and they are old, so it's a bit harder for them to bend down and reach things, so I'll be the one who helps them, especially things that are closer to the ground, 'cos it's much easier for me to just take it," she shared.

See? Everyone has their strengths.

Janice also introduced viewers to her older sister Janelle, who stands at 167cm.

That's a 40cm height difference between them.

But despite their difference in height, the sisters have plenty in common.

They love travelling, shopping and making funny TikTok videos together.

Though travelling can sometimes be physically challenging for Janice.

"My condition makes my bones weaker, so it's harder for me to walk long distances. And then like, because we go to a lot of European countries as well, so there are a lot of hills. There are some parts where she like piggybacks me up the hill," Janice revealed.

Talk about having a sister who's literally got your back.

And when they're not exploring the world, the sisters enjoy a little retail therapy.

In fact, they even share clothes.

"When we go out together, we go to like, let's say, Brandy [Melville] or some boutique, we will go to the same fitting room, and then we will just try clothes together," Janelle shared.

Shoes, however, are a different story.

Janice wears children's sizes, which, as it turns out, comes with a pretty sweet perk.

She revealed that a pair of Adidas Sambas that would normally cost around S$160 in adult sizes cost her just S$50.

That's a S$110 saving.

Not bad at all.

Using humour to challenge stereotypes

The sisters also enjoy making TikTok videos poking fun at their height difference.

But for Janice, the videos aren't just about getting laughs.

She hopes they can also help change how people perceive those with disabilities.

"I really want to raise awareness that like, some people may assume that people with disabilities, they're like... not normal, or they're not funny, or they're very sensitive. But I want to clear those allegations about me 'cos I love it," she explained.

And judging from their playful banter, the sisters certainly aren't afraid to laugh at themselves.

But beyond the jokes, it's clear that Janelle has plenty of admiration for her younger sister.

When asked what she admires most about Janice, Janelle highlighted her determination.

"If you have a goal in mind and you have something you want to achieve, you will not steer away from it," she shared.