Dlow on Boxing, SEDC Dwarfism, and Putting Nordstrom on Blast

Dlow doesn’t care about the labels you’ve been taught to use. Whether it’s "dwarf," "midget," or his mother’s preferred term, "vertically challenged," the influencer and amateur boxer has spent his life moving through a world that wasn't built for his frame. But if you think his stature is a sign of vulnerability, you haven’t seen him bench press 145 pounds or step into a boxing ring after a surgeon told him to quit for good.

Walking into the studio with an aura of bulletproof calm, Dlow sat down with Lexis Star to break down the reality of living with a rare form of dwarfism—specifically SEDC (Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita). From being rejected by major retailers during job hunts to his brief, viral stint in the adult industry, Dlow is proof that the most dangerous thing you can do is tell someone "no" when they’ve already survived the impossible.

"Special" vs. "Different"

The realization that his path would be different didn't come all at once. Dlow recalls the shift happening around age five or six. While other kids were hitting growth spurts, he remained stationary. His parents tried to soften the blow with the word "special," but the schoolyard had a different vocabulary.

“When you go to school, when you round up all the other kids, they're not saying special,” Dlow reflects. “They're saying, 'Oh, he's different.'... I think the word 'different' was negative. I took it negative at that age. Now that I'm older, it’s positive. 1,000%.”

His upbringing was unique in more ways than one. Adopted at age ten by a woman who volunteered at the nursery where he recovered from childhood surgeries, Dlow grew up with a massive support system that included both his birth parents and his adoptive parents. This foundation gave him the confidence to ignore the PC police. “I don’t care about the word midget,” he says flatly. “Politically, the word midget is incorrect, but the way that I see it, when you say midget, at least people know what you’re actually talking about.”

The Nordstrom Rejection

Before the viral fame and the fitness reels, Dlow was just a young man trying to clock into a 9-to-5. He spent time working at Nike, proving he could handle a cash register despite the height gap, but not every employer was willing to give him a fair shot. When Lexis asked about the fear of not being hired, Dlow didn't hesitate to name names.

“People didn't hire me. Nordstrom. Really? Yeah. Boycott. Cancel. Get them out of here.”

That rejection fueled a "why not me?" attitude that eventually led him into the gym. Even today, he has to adapt, standing on the seats of butterfly machines to get his reps in. But the results speak for themselves. The sight of a three-foot-tall man clearing nearly 150 pounds on the bench tends to silence the doubters in the room.

Boxing Through the Blackout

Dlow’s most harrowing story involves his transition into the boxing world. After a freak wrestling accident with his brothers led to a detached retina, he underwent a surgery so complex his doctor warned him he’d never fight again. Dlow’s response? He went back to the ring anyway.

A "clean punch" in a later match finished the job the accident started, leaving him blind in his right eye. But he doesn't harbor regrets. Instead, he views the injury with a surprising sense of vanity. "I used to be self-conscious about this eye, but now it’s kind of like—it’s beauty. It looks like I have blue eyes."

That grit is what eventually landed him in Mike Tyson’s gym in Palm Beach. Watching the legendary heavyweight interact with Dlow—calling him "baby" and clicking instantly—was a full-circle moment for a kid who was told he’d be a spectator in life rather than a participant.

The Adult Industry and The 'Baby Alien' Beef

Lexis didn't shy away from the elephant in the room: Dlow’s brief foray into the adult film industry, specifically his work with the brand Vixen. What started as a "why not" experiment living in a content house led to two full scenes—one of which featured the internet's other most famous small-stature personality, Baby Alien.

While rumors of beef between the two have circulated, Dlow cleared the air. “Nah, we’re cool now,” he insists, though he admits the adult industry wasn't his long-term calling. “It didn’t fit what I was trying for my entire career,” he says. His eyes are now set on a traditional acting career, cheekily suggesting his life story should be titled Little Man 3.

Whether he's dodging punches or dodging trolls who claim he "acts like Future" now that he's famous, Dlow’s message remains rooted in the same resilience that got him through ten years of surgeries. As he puts it: “You can walk on water and they’ll tell you that you can’t swim.”

• Favorite late-night snack: Hot Cheetos

• Biggest pet peeve: Dishes in the sink

• Number one rule: Never give up

Chapters

• 00:49 — Intro + Meet D Lo

• 01:44 — Growing Up Feeling Different

• 03:52 — Daily Struggles & Mindset Shift

• 06:12 — Being Adopted & Early Life

• 07:03 — “Never Give Up” Mentality

• 09:10 — Getting Rejected for Jobs

• 10:19 — Boxing Journey Begins

• 12:59 — Being Underestimated in the Gym

• 17:19 — Confidence Through Trial & Error

• 24:10 — Meeting Mike Tyson

• 25:28 — Future Goals & Acting Dreams

• 29:07 — Final Message: Never Give Up