diff --git a/Libraries/Text/RCTShadowText.m b/Libraries/Text/RCTShadowText.m
index adf7be667d5520..fe2a0657d9bd4d 100644
--- a/Libraries/Text/RCTShadowText.m
+++ b/Libraries/Text/RCTShadowText.m
@@ -306,6 +306,14 @@ - (void)_setParagraphStyleOnAttributedString:(NSMutableAttributedString *)attrib
     CGFloat lineHeight = round(_lineHeight * fontSizeMultiplier);
     paragraphStyle.minimumLineHeight = lineHeight;
     paragraphStyle.maximumLineHeight = lineHeight;
+
+    // vertically center text
+    CGFloat fontSize = _fontSize && !isnan(_fontSize) ? _fontSize : UIFont.systemFontSize;
+    fontSize *= fontSizeMultiplier;
+
+    [attributedString addAttribute:NSBaselineOffsetAttributeName
+                             value:@(lineHeight/2 - fontSize/2)
+                             range:(NSRange){0, attributedString.length}];
     [attributedString addAttribute:NSParagraphStyleAttributeName
                              value:paragraphStyle
                              range:(NSRange){0, attributedString.length}];