Life for Hitomi Goto had always been about trying to blend in and the envy she felt as a person dealing with dwarfism from an early age, especially when it came to the fashion of her peers.

But the 27-year-old Goto now sees herself in a different light: a standout among the crowd as she has successfully pursued her dreams of fashion modeling and getting married, while motherhood, she says, is just around the corner.

In October 2013, Goto was one of the members of the "Real Seven Dwarfs" dressed up in colorful outfits and rainbow-colored hats when she took part in a Halloween event at Tokyo Disneyland to the delight of the theme-park crowd.

Like the other six members, Goto, who at about 115 centimeters is about the average height of a first grader, has the genetic condition called achondroplasia, which stunts physical growth especially in the arms and legs.

Recalling the experience of nearly four years ago, she said, "People look at me curiously even when I walk normally. So, I changed my mindset and took this opportunity to stand out, believing this (dwarf) attire was the best way to take advantage of my short size."

In elementary school, Goto, who now works for an apparel makeover company and is a freelance illustrator, was not much different from the other children. But this changed in middle school where she would sometimes feel dejected for appearing "like a mere child in a junior high school uniform."

"I was not bullied to my face but was teased occasionally behind my back," she said.

Goto was envious of classmates who would flip through fashion magazines, looking for the latest fads. Clothing did not fit her the same way it fit her friends when they would go shopping together. This led to her giving up on dressing up and becoming all the more frustrated about her short stature.

But a turning point came when she began playing the drums in a high school band.

"There was an amusing response from the audiences that came to see our concerts because my body was hidden behind the drums and it appeared as if the drums were playing on their own." She finally understood that being different from others was her way of discovering her unique character.

(Hitomi Goto)

She entered a fashion institute to study apparel design to make clothes that fit her, but she found that she was unable to keep up with the assignments as it took her longer than other students to stitch because of her physical limitations.

Just when she had become anxious about her future, her father suddenly died of a brain hemorrhage.

It was thanks to her family that she kept a strong will, although she had struggled through various hardships.

"My parents raised me in a carefree way and my older brother was always there kindly supporting me."

Goto quit her university after two years and took some time off to re-evaluate. She began to attend meetings with others who have the same genetic disorder and their families -- gatherings she had not been to since her teenage years.

She was able to meet with her peers after many years and talk about similar physical concerns about the limitations of clothing to wear and how to be more fashionable.

Their words gave her an incentive to return to school, this time a vocational art school to study drawing and design. She started a blog and introduced her solo exhibition of illustrations and fashion items. Goto also uploaded photos of herself dressed in clothes she designed, as examples to show people like herself how they can also enjoy various fashions despite their short stature.

She was encouraged by more and more viewers as well as their compliments. "I realized I don't have to give up on being fashionable even though I am small."

Goto has also shown her prowess for a career on the catwalk. Last October, she strutted in a tightly fitted blue dress, along with other participants at the International Dwarf Fashion Show, held for the first time in Japan to the applause of a crowd of about 200 spectators at a venue in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.

Two years ago she was recruited by an apparel designing firm, which aims to have the disabled and elderly enjoy fashion without worrying about their bodies or age, an approach known as "universal fashion" -- fashionable clothes that are beneficial and functional for everyone, including those who need assistance or nursing care.

"I hope my appearances in public will help promote Japanese society's understanding" about people with disabilities, Goto said.

She has gradually gained a following among those concerned about the disabled and even done interviews with magazines and a variety of media, but also understands that not all disabled people are willing to step in the spotlight like her.

As a matter of principle, she is unwilling to accept jobs that call on her to appear in public as a curiosity because she is small.

"There are many people who have suffered (with their disabilities), so I can't impose myself on them. I do what I want based on my own will."

Goto recently married a colleague from work. She plans to design and sew her wedding dress together with her husband for their wedding ceremony next year. "I can broaden my activities with his support."

As for her dream of one day becoming a mother, she is determined to give birth, despite running a 50 percent chance as the parent with the condition of having a child with the same genetic mutation that causes dwarfism.

"I will tell my child, 'Do not worry, everyone will support you' if the baby has the same features as mine," Goto said. "I will continue to speak out to make society a better place for the child to live in," she said.