Little People, Big World, a TLC show that aired 15 years ago, influenced many people to reconsider how they see and treat people with dwarfism. The reality show’s stars, the Roloff family, helped raise awareness about people with their condition, and as a result, many stereotypes about those with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder characterized by dwarfism, have been significantly challenged.
Amy and Matt Roloff have four children. Their son Zach, like his parents, has dwarfism, while the other three children, Jeremy, Molly, and Jacob, are of average height. A lot has changed in the Roloffs’ lives since the first episode aired in 2006. Fans followed the children as they grew up, went to college, and began their own lives. Except for Zach, they all decided to move on from the show. Amy graduated from Franklin High School in 1980 and went on to Central Michigan University to pursue a business degree.
Students teased her for her height when she was younger, but her parents taught her to be self-assured and not to let the words of others affect her in any way. She joined the organization LPA (Little People of America) as a young woman, which provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. She met Matt, who would later become her husband, at one of LPA’s events.
Amy and Matt married and purchased their home, the famous Oregon farm where the show is filmed. “The Learning Channel (TLC) came to us [in 2005], and so we suddenly realized we were given a great opportunity to educate people about dwarfism,” Amy said of the time TLC approached them about a show. When we were approached about doing a show about our lives, my husband and I thought, ‘Wow, nothing like this has ever aired.'”
The show was supposed to run for six seasons, but people loved it so much that it is still running after 22 seasons. Amy learned more about herself thanks to Little People, Big World. “I actually think I’ve gotten to know myself a little bit better, and all the opportunities that I’m more than capable of doing,” she said. “To begin with, exposing your life to millions of people, especially as a parent, is a daunting task.
“However, I believe that this very public experience has helped each member of my family grow. I believe it has strengthened us so that we can recognize both our flaws and our best qualities.” Amy and Matt divorced in 2016, but they stayed close. Amy began dating again after her divorce. “We do our best, and we still want to be respectful for the sake of our children and things like that,” she said of the divorce. “We’ve spent our entire lives together, so why do we hate each other? It didn’t work out, so we moved on.”
“You know, after divorce, production is like, ‘Oh, you gotta date!'” Date!’ “I’m like, wait a minute, I need to breathe and be alone for a second,” she added. Amy married her boyfriend, Keller Williams real estate firm owner Chris Marek, on August 28. They had been engaged for two years before marrying. According to The Sun, the ceremony took place on the farm that now belongs to Matt after Amy sold her portion for $600,000 to him. Chris has made several appearances on the show.