Lena Dunham, the American actress and writer renowned for her role as Hannah Horvath in the TV series Girls, is 5 feet 3 ¼ inches (160.7 cm) tall.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, she once disclosed her height and weight, stating, “I’m 5-foot-3 and 150 pounds…statistically the average American female body.” Her height is slightly below the average for American women, which is typically around 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm).
Lauren A. E. Schuker, Lena Dunham in yellow peep-toe heels and a cobalt satin gown, and Jason Blum attend the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 15, 2022, in Los Angeles (Credit: DFree / Shutterstock)
In her own words, Lena humorously remarked that in her family, where everyone is around 5 feet 10 inches tall with brown hair and glasses, she stands at 5 feet 3 and a half inches, playfully describing herself as “waddling behind them.” Her unique stature adds a comical twist to their family portraits.
Stepping Out in Style: Lena Dunham’s Most Memorable Shoe Moments
Never one to shy away from bold choices, Lena Dunham often lets her footwear do the talking. From quirky to classic, her shoe game is as unfiltered and expressive as her writing:
- Nicholas Kirkwood: On “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Lena brought a refined edge to her floral Simone Rocha dress by slipping into Nicholas Kirkwood “Origami” pumps with triple bow accents, blending architectural design with feminine flair.
- Jeffrey Campbell: At the 2017 Met Gala, she leaned into drama with a voluminous Elizabeth Kennedy gown, grounding the look with chunky black Jeffrey Campbell lace-up boots that gave the ensemble a rebellious, downtown-cool twist.
- Paul Andrew: For the 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Lena opted for understated polish with a custom Jonathan Cohen dress paired with classic black Paul Andrew “Zenadia” pumps. This staple heel tempered the boldness of her belted silhouette.
- Fenty Puma by Rihanna: On the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival, Lena brought unexpected street style to the forefront with olive green Fenty Puma by Rihanna bow sneakers, injecting a sporty yet playful vibe into her festival look.
- Streetzie’s: Known for embracing whimsy, Lena turned heads at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards with her plush pink bunny slipper heels by Streetzie’s, proving that red carpet style can be both cheeky and charming.
Lena Dunham is noticeably shorter than Katey Sagal, whose current height is 5 feet 7 ½ inches (171.5 cm). At her peak, Sagal stood even taller at 5 feet 8 ¾ inches (174.6 cm), making the height difference between the two actresses quite apparent when they appear side by side.
Lena Dunham pairs vibrant orange ankle-strap heels with tropical print pants and a satin green top, standing beside Katey Sagal in a neutral-toned velvet midi dress and tan boots at the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House Awards (Credit: WENN / Instar)
Lena Dunham’s Shoe Size
Lena Dunham’s shoe size is 6 in the US system. In other shoe sizing systems, it roughly translates to European sizing of about 36 or 36.5, a UK size of approximately 4.5, and Japanese sizing of around 23 or 23.5.
Lena Dunham shows off her minimalist pedicure in bold orange block-heel sandals (Credit: Instar / WENN)
Lena Dunham humorously reflected on feeling self-conscious about her height and body after standing next to Taylor Swift, Hailee Steinfeld, Gigi Hadid, and Lily Aldridge during a concert appearance.
She admitted that seeing herself on the Jumbotron made her realize she wasn’t as tall as she thought—just “chubby,” as she put it—adding that even the most confident woman might struggle beside three supermodels.
While Lena has had her share of standout shoe moments, not every red carpet appearance has hit the mark.
Lena Dunham’s Glamour Red Carpet Misstep: A Fashion Faux Pas
The 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards saw Lena in a custom-made Jonathan Cohen belted dress, but her outfit left many underwhelmed (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
There’s a lot to love about Lena Dunham, but unfortunately, her style isn’t one of them.
The “Girls” star disappointed fashion critics with her attire at the 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, and we have to say that we weren’t surprised at all.
Lena Dunham confidently rocked a Jonathan Cohen belted dress paired with Paul Andrew pumps (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
The 30-year-old didn’t look great, even in a custom-made Jonathan Cohen belted dress. The garment was somewhat ill-fitting and unflattering on her, and her lousy posture did not help the situation either.
Actress/writer Lena Dunham did not impress the fashion critics at the Glamour Women Of The Year 2016 at NeueHouse Hollywood on November 14, 2016, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
To top it all off, Lena opted for a pair of black Paul Andrew “Zenadia” pumps that didn’t add any appeal to her ensemble. The shoes on their own, however, were fabulous. The “Zenadia” pumps are no longer available online.
Lena Dunham steps out in sleek black patent leather pumps with curved vamps (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
Like Lena Dunham, many petite women turn to heels not just for the extra inches, but for the way they elongate the silhouette, enhance posture, and instantly elevate both confidence and style.
Whether a red carpet moment or a casual outing, the right pair of heels can make a bold, empowering statement. Let’s take a look at how other petite celebrities use footwear to elevate their presence.
Petite Celebrities Elevating Their Style with Heels
Petite women often turn to heels to add height, elongate their legs, and boost confidence. Here’s how some well-known stars enhance their stature with stylish footwear:
Rashida Jones’s Statement Heels
- Event: 2013 Independent Spirit Brunch
- Outfit: Rashida Jones opted for a chic ensemble complemented by strappy metallic sandals.
- Footwear: The metallic sandals added a touch of elegance, enhancing her overall look.
- More Details: Rashida Jones’s Height and Heel Secrets Revealed
Hayden Panettiere’s High Heel Choices
- Event: Appearance on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’
- Outfit: Hayden Panettiere turned heads in a vibrant ensemble paired with red leather ankle boots.
- Footwear: The red leather boots featured sleek 4.5-inch heels and pointed toes, adding a bold flair to her look.
- More Details: Hayden Panettiere’s Heel Collection: How She Steps Up Her Height
Ashley Tisdale’s Elevated Footwear
- Event: Various Red Carpet Appearances
- Outfit: Ashley Tisdale frequently chooses outfits that pair elegantly with high heels.
- Footwear: She often opts for heels from designers like Stuart Weitzman and Christian Louboutin to enhance her 5ft 2½in frame.
- More Details: Ashley Tisdale’s Height & Heels: How She Elevates Her Petite Frame
Nicole Richie’s Platform Heels
- Event: Various Public Appearances
- Outfit: Nicole Richie embraces bold fashion choices, often incorporating platform heels.
- Footwear: Her footwear collection includes studded platform Christian Louboutin heels, adding significant height and style.
- More Details: Best Heels for Petite Women: How Nicole Richie Enhances Her Height
Sarah Hyland’s Stiletto Sandals
- Event: iHeartRadio Music Awards
- Outfit: Sarah Hyland dazzled in a black ensemble complemented by crystal-embellished sandals.
- Footwear: The Giuseppe Zanotti sandals added sparkle and height, perfectly balancing sophistication and flair.
- More Details: How Sarah Hyland Defies Her Height With Show-Stopping Heels
These examples showcase how petite celebrities use heels to enhance their stature and style, proving that confidence and the right footwear can make a significant impact.