10 of the Tallest Women in the World – 2023 Edition
There are many tall people in the world, but some women stand out as having a truly exceptional height. The tallest recorded woman ever was Zeng Jinlian from China, who measured an incredible 8 feet 1.75 inches (2.48 m) when she died in 1982. She was only 12 years of age at the time and experts believe her height would have continued to grow if she had lived longer.
Other exceptionally tall women include Yulia Avizova from Russia, who stood 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 m), and Sandy Allen from Indiana, USA, who reached 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m). Both were born with gigantism due to their bodies producing excessive levels of growth hormone.
The tallest female alive today, would be Rumeysa Gelgi. At the height of 7ft 0.7in, and the age of only 24, she isn’t the tallest woman ever, but is definitely making the most of her rare situation.
Gigantism is a rare medical condition that can cause excessive growth in both children and adults. In some cases, the condition is caused by tumors on the pituitary gland which produce too much growth hormone. This has been linked to other health complications such as high blood pressure, headaches, and difficulty sleeping.
In most cases however, gigantism is a symptom of a more complex underlying disorder in which the body produces too much insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). This can lead to an overgrowth of bones, muscles and organs, resulting in extreme height compared to average individuals.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the tallest women to ever walk the earth.
10 Very Tall Women that Stood Above Everyone Else
No matter how big or small someone might be, everyone is special in their own unique way. In addition to being some of the tallest people ever, the list of individuals below brought smiles and interest to millions of people around the world. Now, it’s time for you to learn more about each of them.
Yao Defen – 7’8″
Yao Defen from Shandong, China has been the tallest woman in recorded history at an incredible 7’8″. She was diagnosed with a tumor on her pituitary gland which caused her to grow uncontrollably. She passed away in 2012 due to heart failure.
Sandy Allen – 7’7″
Sandy Allen is recognized as the second-tallest woman ever and stood 7’7” tall when she passed away in 2008. Born and raised in Indiana, USA, Sandy had acromegaly – a hormonal disorder causing excessive growth that led to her incredibly tall stature.
Malgorzata Dydek – 7’2″
Malgorzata Dydek, born in Poland in 1974, stands at 7’2″. She played professional basketball across Europe and the United States before retiring in 2011. She was the tallest professional basketball player ever and is still the tallest female former professional basketball player.
Zainab Bibi – 7’2″
Zainab Bibi from Pakistan, born in 1986, stands at 7’2″ and is believed to be the third-tallest living woman in the world today. Despite her height, she continues to strive for her dream of teaching children by working as a primary school teacher in Kohat, Pakistan.
Uljana Semjonova – 7’1″
Uljana Semjonova from Latvia was an incredible 7’1″ tall when she was playing professional basketball from 1970-1986. As one of the most successful players of her time, Uljana won a total of nine European Championships and two Olympic gold medals with the USSR women’s basketball team.
Rumeysa Gelgi – 7’1″
Rumeysa Gelgi from Turkey, born in 1990, is the fourth-tallest woman alive today and stands at 7’1″. She was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that caused her to grow uncontrollably and she has become somewhat of an internet sensation due to her height.
Gitika Srivastava – 6’11″
Gitika Srivastava from India is the fifth-tallest living woman and stands at 6’11”. Despite her tall stature, Gitika remains active in sports by playing basketball and is also known for her philanthropic efforts.
Malee Duangdee – 6’10″
Malee Duangdee hails from Thailand and stands at 6’10”. Femalee began experiencing growth spurts as a child, eventually plateauing at her current height. She has become an online sensation due to her height and continues to inspire others with her story of perseverance.
Caroline Welz – 6″9″
Caroline Welz from Germany stands tall at 6’9″. She was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor as a child that caused her excessive growth, but she does not let it stop her from living life to the fullest.
Rita Miniva Besa – 6’8″
Rita Miniva Besa is the tenth-tallest woman alive today and hails from Zimbabwe. At 6’8″, Rita has experienced some difficulties in her life due to her stature, but remains positive despite these challenges and encourages other people with similar issues to be proud of who they are.
15 of the Tallest Female Celebrities in Hollywood
While the list of individuals above are quite large in their height, they aren’t the only women towering over others. In fact, Hollywood is filled with talented and beautiful actresses that are all in the six-foot range. Take a look at some of the names below, and think about if you knew how tall they really were.
- Gwendoline Christie 6’2″
- Maria Sherpaova 6’2″
- Brigitte Nelson 6’1″
- Brooke Shields 6″0″
- Elle Macpherson 6’0″
- Geena Davis 6″0″
- Jane Lynch 6″0″
- Aisha Tyler 6″0″
- Uma Thurman 5’11”
- Taylor Swift 5’11”
- Tilda Swinton 5″11″
- Melania Trump 5’11”
- Rebecca Romijn 5’11”
- Giselle Bundchen 5’11”
- Nicole Kidman 5’11”
The Tallest and Shortest Women in the World
Although it’s certainly impressive to see tall women like Zeng Jinlian or Yulia Avizova, it’s important to remember that gigantism can be a difficult condition to live with. These women and others like them have faced health problems throughout their lives due to their excessive height, but they still managed to make an impact in the world despite these challenges.
So while tall women might seem extraordinary, they are also human beings who deserve respect and admiration for their courage and strength of spirit. No matter how tall or short someone is, each of us has something special inside that makes us unique – and worth celebrating!