The concept of short king may be unfamiliar to many people. It is an expression that has become widespread on social media to celebrate a new form of masculinity, freer from prejudices and rigid aesthetic standards. Because although pressure on appearance usually mainly affects women, there is a stigma that has pursued men since the beginning of time: height.
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In particular, the situation that arises when in a couple the man is shorter than the woman. We have all heard phrases like: “if it weren’t for those few centimeters less.” A type of aesthetic violence that affects a significant part of the male population and reinforces traditional physical stereotypes that associated leadership, success, and attraction with height.
For the new generations, promoters of changes in society, a short king is a man who measures less than 1.74 meters and who, far from limiting himself, embraces his identity with pride, showing that true strength lies in personality, empathy, and the ability to build authentic bonds. A good example is Tom Holland. The actor is very used to his height being a topic of conversation, especially when compared to that of his partner, Zendaya, who measures approximately 1.78 meters. However, both have downplayed that difference on several occasions.
It was during the promotion of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 when he was asked if the height difference had been a problem in the kissing scenes. With the politeness and elegance that characterize him, Holland responded naturally and humorously, downplaying the issue: “it’s not a problem at all.” Even Zendaya had to face questions about height, explaining that her mother is taller than her father, and that it is “something normal.”
A new wave of masculinity that lives its relationships freer from prejudices and rigid aesthetic standards
Jeremy Allen White quickly became another short king reference thanks to his great charisma. The relationship he had with Rosalía placed him at the center of conversation, showing how the height difference did not affect the public perception of a couple. Not to mention, the star of The Bear made it onto the list of the sexiest men in the world published annually by People magazine.
A very discussed case within what could be called “women prefer them shorter” is Nicole Kidman. During her relationship with Tom Cruise, to whom the Australian was married between 1990 and 2001, the height difference was especially commented on, generating headlines and debates about how couples “should” look. In contrast, her relationship with Keith Urban, to whom she was married for twenty years, showed how public perception can fade when importance is no longer given to it.
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The former couple formed by Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner also sparked interest on social media. He, a member of the band Jonas Brothers, measures approximately 1.71 meters and the actress four centimeters more. This difference was more noticeable when Turner posed on a red carpet. Precisely those public appearances where they projected a relaxed and close image were the way both contributed to normalizing their image.
In the same way that Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley or Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden – especially when the women wore heels – omitted any comment about their appearance, distancing themselves from the basic stereotypes of society.
On the other hand, the case of Nicolas Sarkozy, who measures around 1.65 meters, is a clear example of non-acceptance of public image. During his presidency, one of the most talked-about episodes was a session for the French magazine Paris Match where the politician appeared taller than Carla Bruni.
The image went viral, generated much controversy, and Sarkozy had to explain that it was not photoshop, but that he had indeed stood on a step to add centimeters. Beyond the anecdote, this case reflects how much height can influence public image and when one is a slave to an appearance that should never limit worth.
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