Bullies called me T-rex because I only have three fingers
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A beauty lover who was told she looked like a dinosaur because of her three-fingered hands said she now accepts the comparison, performing under the stage name DJ Dino and selling casts of her hands.
Cassidy Laramee, 26, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was born with one thumb and two fingers on her right hand and had an extra thumb and deformed finger removed from her left hand as a baby.
The car saleswoman now has one thumb and two fingers on each hand and was bullied at school, being compared to a T-Rex.
But Cassidy now accepts the comparison, DJing at a karaoke bar under the stage name DJ Dino, as well as sharing clips on social media featuring his digits alongside images of dinosaurs.
Cassidy Laramee, 26, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was born with one thumb and two fingers on her right hand and had an extra thumb and deformed finger removed from her left hand.
He also sells casts of his hands for parents whose children have a similar condition to boost their confidence.
Cassidy said: ‘I was born like this on my right hand, on my left hand, it was misshapen.
‘He had half a little finger [little finger] and two thumbs. He would have been a thumb wrestling killer but he was taken from me when he was a baby.
‘I really don’t know what fingers I have [now]I know I have thumbs, that’s all.
“People always said that I have velociraptor or T-Rex hands, so I always tried to take the punches.
Cassidy focuses on the positives, saying that she can get a discount at the beauty salon and she can get to the end of a can of Pringles.
After being bullied as a child and told that she looked like a dinosaur, Cassidy accepted the comparison and performs as DJ Dino.
‘In third grade I was bullied out of my school, so we ended up moving and changing schools. Once I entered a new school system, everyone was very nice to me.
“I got a lot of different things like ET or Ninja Turtle, a bunch of different nicknames, and I just adopted them.
“I always tell people I’ll give you $20 if you tell me a joke I haven’t heard.”
Cassidy avoided nail salons for years after feeling self-conscious when a nail technician resorted to wearing a thumbnail extension.
But after seeing Megan Fox’s so-called ‘toe thumbs’ and blatantly asking for a discount, she now loves getting them done for $60 at Happy Nail Salon in Chicopee.
Cassidy said: ‘The first time I got my nails done I was really shy because I have a thumb that’s like a toe. is big
‘[The nail tech] He joked and said “oh I have to use a toenail [extension] for this one” and after that I didn’t do my nails for a long time because I was really embarrassed.
The car saleswoman also sells casts of her hands and are often purchased by parents whose children have a similar condition to boost their confidence.
Cassidy’s condition has led to health problems, and he explains, “My hands are a little sore and I’m sure eventually they won’t have the strength that they do.” [now]. I have early onset arthritis now’
but the 26-year-old likes going to the salon because ‘I like my nails to make me feel pretty’
“But then I said, ‘you know what, I don’t care, I love myself and my thumb. If Megan Fox can have thumbs, then so can I. She owns it.”
“I asked for a 40 percent discount at the nail salon because it’s less work and less materials.
I’m not saying I’m entitled to a discount, but I have to get what I can get here. I can’t open pickle jars.
“Any money I save I use to tip the nail technician who is doing my nails because I’m not easy with cool designs and things, so I’m too generous with the nail technician.”
‘I always go to the same beauty salon because I’m a bit picky about designs. I like my nails to make me feel pretty.
“My hands are already messy, at least I want my nails to look good.”
Cassidy also began making casts of his unique hands, saying, “I work in auto sales, and when I shake someone’s hand, they automatically say ‘oh, there’s something missing here.’
Lots of people think it’s really cool and ask to play them.
‘I started making hand molds just for fun after going to a local fair and they had hand molds.
“I posted it on TikTok and a lot of people wanted to buy it. Many people asked for silicone ones.
While having fewer fingers comes with certain downsides and health complications, Cassidy focuses on the bright side.
Cassidy said: ‘Opening anything is difficult, like pickle jars, bags of chips or doors.
Cassidy (pictured as a baby) was bullied out of her school when she was younger and had to move
But Cassidy says the struggles she’s experienced have helped her “become the person I am today, who is strong and confident.”
‘I have weak wrists, they don’t have great mobility, so I just open anything.
“My hands hurt a little bit and I’m sure eventually they won’t have the strength that they do.” [now]. I have early onset arthritis now.
‘I always wonder which finger I’m going to put my wedding ring on, because I don’t have a fixed ring finger.
“But there are definitely advantages, like reaching the end of the Pringles can.
‘If I lose something on the couch, a quarter, a nickel, a dime, my hands fit in there to get it back, my hands are like claw machines.
‘I wouldn’t trade anything about myself for the world.
Even the difficulties I’ve been through in my life help me become the person I am today, who is strong and confident.
“There are a lot of people out there who struggle to be confident, and seeing a role model or seeing someone more open about who they are really helps.”
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