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November 2008 - Pauline 5'10"
Pauline's Basics
Name: Pauline
Birthday: October 1st 1981
Height: 5'10"
Location: United StatesWhere to begin... Many people would easily identify my obsession with height as a "complex", as any other complex. For me, being teased about my height hurt more because I had big feet that went along with it! Yes it is true. Not to mention I did not have anyone else to identify with in my immediate family. My adopted mother was 5ft 8 and my father was 5 ft 4. (what the heck?) My biological sister was just 5ft 7.
At the age of 10 I was wearing size 10 and there was nothing sexy about that. When we took our 5th grade graduation pictures, I will never forget the look of everyone's faces when we lined up in height order and I was directly in the middle facing Andrew Cseres (sp?) who was not only the cutest and tallest boy in our class, but the same height as me! It was an embarrassing situation, considering I had a crush on him since we were in the third grade; but like everything in life, you eventually get over it. (smile)
Thankfully, the majority of boys had growth spurts that summer, so entering the 6th grade wasn't horrible. I was no longer taller then everyone in my class, though my "complex" couldn't fade just yet. In playing basketball and even cheerleading (tallest gal on the squad of course, lol) I developed more confidence, not to mention athletic calves…It took me a little bit longer to get over my complex because when I would work out in the gym in high school, the boys would always make smart comments like "I want my legs and calves to look just like hers!" Lets just say, it took a special gentleman to affirm my legs sexyness in my freshman year of college to even begin wearing skirts!!
Where am I today with my height? I LOVE IT! I am not quite a "6 footer", but an Amazon nonetheless, standing 5ft 10in and wearing size 12 shoes. Tall women get the best of both worlds. Short men love us (see above: my dad, 5ft 4 married my mom who is 5ft8!) and tall men adore us. Short women want to be us (ask any women who wears 3 in heels) and well those of us who are tall alike can only respect us. I STILL wear my heels, putting me at 6'1'' sometimes, but who cares. Did I mention, women in uniform are sexy!! In becoming a proud member of the United States Air Force Reserves, last summer, my legs are even more sexier!! LOL I am not even shy about wearing skirts or flexing the muscles in my arms and back! When people ask me ignorant questions about my height, I simply apologize because "they are vertically challenged and being tall is something they would never be able to understand" and keep it moving!! LOL My big feet, well there are days when I wish my feet didn't get wider after the birth of my three year old son, lol…but it could be worse! I just save my pennies and shop the UK websites as shoes for larger feet are of better quality leather and cuter! (Cinderella Shoes is a keeper!)
There is nothing like an intelligent, tall, athletic, attractive, and confident man , who is not easily intimidated by an intelligent, tall, attractive, and confident woman. My advice to my local, national, and international tall sisters? Sit, stand, and walk tall! Be proud of the exceptional woman you are. The next time you enter a room, hold that head up high, scroll the room making eye contact with just a few, and you will be amazed by who just might NOT notice you. LOL j/k They will all see you and remember you even if you don't. :o) You are GORGEOUS! God made you in his own image so you are PERFECT.
Your tall sis in Christ,
Pauline -
November 2009 - Rebekah 6'1 1/2"
Rebekah's Basics
Name: Rebekah
Birthday: March 4th, 1991
Height: 6'1 1/2"
Location: United StatesMy name is Rebekah. I am 18 years old. I am a tad bit over 6'1" and I live in TX, USA.
I came out of the womb at 2 feet, at the age of 1 I looked like a 3 yr. old. In elementary school I was actually bullied a lot, and because of this in middle school I was real shy, but I made a lot of friends. Especially in band, where I played the 4 ft. instrument, the double reeded bassoon. [played that for 7 years] In high school I moved, so I started a new life. No one knew me. I was goth, and I was out there.. I went from girl who didn't want to be noticed to the girl who couldn't help but be noticed. Even though I had a rough start, I always embraced my height. I had a biological goal of atleast 6'0". =) When I hit 5'11" I prayed and prayed that I would continue to grow, to me it was a tease height. LOL!
On the question about boys...I went out with one boy shorter than me. And that's never happened again. I personally felt it was very ackward. Now, I am happily engaged with someone who is 6'4". [YES!!!=)] When I go out people don't gawk or anything. But, if I am at a social gathering [I tend to wear heels when I have an excuse for them] atleast one [typically a girl] asks me how tall I am.
As for my outlooks on life...I refuse to be content with anything. If I don't like it I change it. Fate doesn't lead us to our destiny, we make our destinies. I also try and look at things realistically, people take that for pessimism. But, if you set a lower standard, I personally subconsciously aim for higher, but, if something happens to where it fails epicly, your standards were met. lol Also, if I can lend a helping hand, I do. I was given a lot in life, who am I to refuse people?
COMEBACKS
[I have a bit more to love weight wise. LOL]. If someone comments on my size in general, I always glare and tell them very seriously that I will sit on them. LOL
NICKNAMES
Jolly Green Giant, Bigfoot, BigBird, Pillow, Skyscraper, Chewbekah, Bekarina. I sent 5 pictures. Two are more recent... even though I have black hair again.
Have a good one
Rebekah=)
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November 2010 - Rebekah 6'4"
Rebekah's Basics
Name: Rebekah
Birthday: February 20th, 1980
Height: 6'4" Location: USABeing the tallest person in the room has both its advantages and disadvantages. The greatest part is never missing anything, the worst part is, it can be very hard to hide... (LOL). I've been tall all my life , in fact I can remember in kindergarten having to have a second grade desk brought in. I could not fit cause my legs were too long to go under the tabletop. Another childhood memory that will forever stick out: someone once asked my mom how she would correct me, cause I was taller than her at a very young age. Her response was the funniest thing i have ever heard. She said "that's easy... bend down here so I can whip you" . It's been an ongoing joke all my life.
It has taken me a very long time to become comfortable with my height and and the attention that it attracts. I always wanted to be short cause I thought I could blend in better, but those that know me best know that I could never blend into a crowd (LOL) . Now that I have come to terms with who I am, I am very happy being the tallest woman in the room, and starting to love the attention it brings. I have to admit I have known of this site for a very longtime, almost since its creation. Joerg is an amazing friend who has always done his best to make me see that beauty comes in all sizes !
There are a few common misunderstandings about tall, big, beautiful women:
Number 1: Just because I'm big enough to take care of myself, does not mean I want to...
Number 2: My size does not mean I'm dominate by nature, I am very submissive
Number 3: Just because I'm big does not make me easy, this take romance baby !!!I'm still looking for my 7'0" foot dream come true, but now that I have started to love heels, I better hope for taller (LOL). My new favorite thing in life is heels, the higher the better. The feeling I get from going out and walking into a room and having every eye on me is priceless. So that 7'0" king of my life probably needs to be 7'5" or so, LOL, but honestly if he can me feel like a princess it doesn't matter to me how tall he is...
It is with great pride that I take the honor of Ms. November 2010, I hope to use this site to help other tall women out there see that their height only helps their natural beauty shine even more.
Love and Kisses Bekah
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November 2012 - Cari 6'3 1/4"
Name: Cari
Birthday:
Height: 6'3 1/4"
Location: USAHi, all!!! A little about me, I am a very energetic girl with tones of personality! I have a passion for life and pride myself on being a very strong individual. I like to stay physically fit and find this to be a real self confidence boost! Especially when you can push more weight than some of the guys at the gym!!! ;-) I live with my wonderful boyfriend and am loving life. About to go into my 30's I couldn't be happier!!
Notice how I haven't said how tall I am yet? I don't think that this is something that "categorizes" us as women. It has been a struggle in the past with my self-confidence only because I was "different" in school and we all know what happens when someone is "different" even in the slightest way. But hey, none of the girls wanted to play against me in basketball!
I am very proud of my height and wouldn't change it for the world. There is something quite empowering about walking in a room and having all eyes on you!!!
Keep strong sisters and walk tall. Love and support to you all!
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November 2013 - Sarah, 6'1"
Name: Sarah
Birthday: December 2nd, 1984
Height: 6'1"
Location: GermanyHi, I am Sarah. When I was younger I always kind of felt like a giant. I have always been the tallest person everywhere and had very short and skinny friends. And I still cannot believe how often adults discriminate against tall children e.g. by giving unfriendly comments and being rude in general. As teenager I started to suffer under the weird norms of the clothing and shoe industry. I got used to wearing sport shoes and sadly had to put my dresses and skirts into the back of the closet. It was especially hard when I went to dancing school or my confirmation and all the other girls had gorgeous shoes but me. So the hunt for really nice shoes and the constant frustration because of the situation have always been a topic for me. In 2012 I finally had enough. I quit my job and went head over heels into the shoe business. I am now the proud owner of a shoe store and an online shop for women's shoes in large sizes, sizes 40-47 (UK 7-12) :)
My motivation is that no one has to feel the way I did, that every woman can find really nice shoes in her size, that she does not feel weird or frustrated, but just can enjoy to go shoe shopping. I am working all the time, I do everything on my own from cleaning, accounting, marketing to sales and customer service. It is a lot, but I love it - Schuhe Grossartig, my shoe store, is my baby! :) It is so nice to see all the really happy faces and get all those nice and thankful mails or postcards.
My customers are often overwhelmed and sometimes really unable to cope with the situation that there is more than one pair of shoes which fits and which they really like. It is just adorable to watch that. Over the years I in general started to feel better and then really well about my height. And as you see if it wasn´t for my height and therefore big feet I would not live my shoe paradise dream as I do now!
So keep your heads high, tall is beautiful and gives us a whole load of possibilities others do not have! In the end I would like to give a quote from Stuart Weitzmann which perfectly fits to us long legged ladies ;) "Nothing has man invented yet that will do a better job than heels at making a good pair of legs look great, or great ones look fabulous."
Viele liebe Grüße aus Essen
Sarah -
October 2008 - Alyssa 6'0"
Alyssa's Basics
Name: Alyssa
Birthday: November 18th, 1990
Height: 6'0"
Location: United StatesHello everyone. I'm Alyssa and I am six foot tall! I have always been a lot taller than any of the other girls and the majority of the guys too ;)... I'm from South Carolina and out here my height is very rare. There are only two girls in my school who are six foot and that would be myself and another girl. Yes, to answer the infamous question I did play basketball... for six years in fact. I wasn't mean enough for the sport so I decided not to play anymore. I never really enjoyed it, I mainly did it to please my family. I felt that because I was tall I was supposed to play. I later realized that you had to have heart for the sport to actually play it.
I felt awkward and uncomfortable with my height for many years mainly because people were always talking about "the tall girl". I just now recently started to appreciate my height. I always longed to be like my friends (size 2 and five foot). I hated standing out in a crowd, and almost never wore heels. I didnt like how none of the guys were taller or as tall as I was, so I never had alot of boyfriends. Yes, of course I got the stereotypical remarks like "Jolly Green Giant", "Big One", or just "Giant". Now, I get the comments of "Legs", "Tall Glass of Water", or "Hot, Tall blonde". So, of course I am not complaining as much.
I am proud of my height. I take pride in standing out in crowds and I just love how I never have to worry about not being able to see over someone's head. I have always been tall enough to ride any rides at theme parks, and I have never had a problem with losing weight easily. Now that the guys are starting to catch up with me as far as height goes (not yet maturity) and shoes in my size are actually decent looking, I am gaining a hell of alot more confidence.
I feel sorry for the women back in the old days who were tall. It's gotten so much easier to find pants long enough or shoes big enough for us taller ladies. For all the girls out there who are six feet and over and hate it, yall need to read over this website and realize what a blessing we all share. Just think about it...you will always be remembered because you stand out. Whether you are the annoying girl that no one can see over at a concert or the movies, or the one who could reach the top of the shelf that the man couldn't get to....we are all thought about (good or bad). People envy us and there is absolutely no reason for them not to! Look at all of the celebrities and models who are tall and then tell me why you dislike your long legs!
Much Love, Alyssa ;)
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October 2009 - Cresta 6'2"
Cresta's Basics
Name: Cresta
Birthday: December 30th 1972
Height: 6'2"
Location: United KingdomI'm not sure where my height comes from. My mum is 5ft6" and dad was 6ft1" (now shrinking!). My brother is only 5ft11" and I'm 6ft2"! My nan was 4ft11 and grandad was 5ft10. My dad blames the daily pint of Guinness drank by my mother and also the fact that she ate for 2 when she was pregnant with me! Anyhows, I wasn't particularly tall when born but soon shot up to be taller than all my classmates, including the boys. I was VERY skinny and gangly with knobbly knees and an akward frame and short hair. I looked like a boy. I can't say that I was affected in a negative way by may height as I don't have any long lasting memories of micky taking. The worst I was called was 'lanky' and 'jolly green giant'. Both of which really annoyed me. Once, a boy called me one of these names and I picked him up and swung him around and around and then let go... straight into the play ground wall. He he :)
My childhood was idyillic with summer days spent riding ponies. My hobby was show jumping and I knew it was time to move onto riding horses when my foot (which was on the end of a very long leg which was dangling a long way down my ponies side) knocked one of the fences over as I was jumping over it!! I was so tall I had to start riding a 17hh (giant) horse at 14. Because I was interested in horse riding and not fashion, it never bothered me that my trousers were 3/4 length or my shoes were clumpy. That was until at 18... I discovered boys. I grew my hair long and wore make up. Although still not a follower of fashion, I became conscious of my clothes and made regular trips to Long Tall Sally (they had a tall zone in those days).
Suddenly boys were interested in me. The ugly duckling had emerged into a confident, elegant individual. I do have one particular memory that has just sprung into my head... it was when i was 15. I thought it was ace to wear the shortest skirts imaginable. I was with mates at a theme park and just about to get on a ride when one of the ride supervisors whistled and shouted... "'those legs will make you a million one day!!!" Well, they haven't made me a million in as much as I haven't been offered any pretty polly contracts, but they have had many an admiring glance over the years and I feel they are my best asset and I feel a million dollars when I show them off.
Anyhows, enough reminiscing. How about the adult years? I can only say that my height has advantaged me in many ways. I have 2 BSc degrees and I'm now an occupational therapist (nothing to do with my height I know). I don't show jump any more but I compete at advanced level dressage which suits my elegant frame. I have been a top hardcore DJ for 4 years in London. The promoter of 'Raindance' (an event) loves the fact that I stand out behind the decks and play pumping sounds. I have lots of natural energy, I have a zest for life and love just being me.
Any downsides to being tall? Hmmm, lets think... my size 10s and the fact that I just can't bring myself to wear high heels and I LOVE high heels :)
All the best
Cresta -
October 2010 - Michelle 6'2"
Michelle's Basics
Name: Michelle
Birthday: October 14th, 1975
Height: 6'2" Location: USAHi, my name is Michelle. I am 6'2", married with 2 children ages 11 and 9. I am a receptionist at a local Radio Station in Houston, Texas. My hobbies include riding bikes, reading, cooking, playing video games, taking computers apart and putting them back together. I enjoy going to happy hour with my girlfriends every now and then. My main focus is my family making sure that they are taken care of first and foremost. I like to think of myself as a good mother and wife - I'm sure if you ask my husband and kids they will tell you the same.
I enjoy meeting new people and having a decent intelligent conversation. I have met quite a few celebrities while working at the radio station. I would have to say my favorite person would have to be Vivica Fox. She is a very down to earth woman. She is also a very multi-talented woman, which reminds me of myself: I am capable of doing many things - helping the kids with homework, cooking and cleaning. Just call me Superwoman. I am currently thinking about enrolling in school for computers because I love working on computers. I have full support of my family if that is what I choose to do.
I have always had height issues. In school I hated being labeled as the tallest girl in the school. It was also very hard for me to find a boyfriend my height, I always seem to attract short men (still do) lol. I hated being asking me if I played basketball I have no clue how to play I love to watch it though. It took me a while to grow to love my height. Now if I am in a store and someone needs something off the top shelf I can get it for them without having a complex. I have learned to accept the fact that I am a tall, sexy, black woman. One things for sure there is always going to be someone talking about me "Wow look at her I wonder how tall she is" or "I wish I were your height"....I enjoy getting compliments on my height now especially when I put on my 2 or 3 inch heels. So to all my TALL, SEXY, SISTAS: Keep your head up high in the sky and don't let nothing get you down!!
Have a great day
Michelle -
Online shopper's trousers arrive with comically long legs
Online shopper's trousers arrive with comically long legs
By Kahla Preston
There’s nothing quite like ripping open an eagerly-awaited online shopping order… only to discover it’s nothing at all like what you expected. The latest victim to this cruel, cruel phenomenon is an Edinburgh woman named Dan, who treated herself to a pair of flared trousers from retailer Pretty Little Thing. The high-waisted jersey pants looked perfectly normal on the screen, but in reality they wouldn't have been out of place in Gumby's wardrobe.
Dan tweeted a photo holding the ludicrously long garment against her body, with the waistband reaching the top of her chest. “Seriously???? do @OfficialPLT think am f---ing slenderman," she wrote. The makeup artist followed this with a photo of herself wearing the pants, their hems stretching several inches beyond her feet.
One follower pointed out that the model in the original photo was wearing heels, but the makeup artist said it didn’t make a difference for her. “The model isn't that much taller than me, she wears a size 8 and i'm wearing a 6. i tried them with heels and they are still about 5 inches too long,” she wrote. If it’s any consolation, Dan isn’t the only online shopper who’s found herself with a pair of comically long pants.
Last month, a fellow Pretty Little Thing shopper had purchased the same design, only to discover the waistband reached just under her chin. Another woman who owned the pants responded to Dan’s tweet, explaining they still touched the floor when she wore them with platform heels. Others shared photos and videos of themselves attempting to wear and walk in similarly long trousers and jumpsuits.
Not everyone was horrified by the giraffe-like legs, however; plenty of tall women chimed in to find out where they could buy the trousers.
“I’m dying to know the actual inseam length. You may have found a unicorn for us. #tallgirlproblems,” one wrote. Pretty Little Thing responded to Dan’s tweet, suggesting their petite range might offer the solution.
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Online shopping? For the tall and large of foot, it’s a mixed bag
Online shopping? For the tall and large of foot, it’s a mixed bag
By Denise Snodell, Columnist, October 08, 2019 12:00 AM,Updated October 08, 2019 12:00 AM
It was 1:30 a.m. when I awakened. I might have heard a sound, like the ice maker clanking in the fridge. Or maybe it was one of those mysterious cracks a house makes. Wood floors can be expressive when adjusting to humidity swings.
I mentally walked through different parts of the house with bump-in-the-night theories. My pillow-based thoughts stopped at the front door. Boom -I realized I’d forgotten to check for a pair of shoes from Amazon. Was it a package thief making a getaway noise? Nah, I concluded, it was likely an inconsiderate kitchen appliance.
Ironically, I tracked the heck out of the package for a few days, but once it was finally “out for delivery” I failed to check the porch before I went to bed. Here’s a replay of my thoughts that night, which addresses doormat anxiety, one of several downsides to online shopping:
If the package is out there, it can wait until morning.
No it can’t.
Yes it can.
No it can’t.
But if I go get the package now, I’ll make a racket and awaken my husband. Not worth it. Don’t do it.
Then again, it could rain horizontally and destroy my purchase. Also, if my Amazon box is out there, it must look like we’re out of town. Not a good thing.
Worst of all - I could lose that rare pair of size 10½ women’s shoes! This internet find was like an aptly named Sasquatch sighting.
I hopped out of bed, made a racket, and retrieved the package. Because they were shoes.
Online shopping has turned me into a monster. I still prefer brick and mortar hunting and gathering, but physical stores absolutely fail tall women who simply want sleeves that reach wrists and pants that cover ankle bones. Along with footwear that fits.
It’s not my fault all the retailers I can easily drive to have enormous petite sections but nothing for the other side of the bell curve. Even shoe department salespeople back away from me when I announce I’m just past the magical stock cutoff of 10 but some 10’s might fit. They’ll only pay attention to me if I’m the only one there. No reason to lose commissions from all the browsing 7’s.
So online shopping has sort of been my salvation, even though I wind up sending back half of what I order. If you’re still reading at this point, here is your reward: I recently learned you can return Amazon orders at many Kohl’s locations. When you do, they slap you with a 25% off store coupon to lure you further into the building. A clever reminder there’s still a 3-D shopping world (minus tall person stuff, but hey: robes and blenders). It’s a crazy feedback loop I’ve been swirling in the last few months and I want it to stop.
Research, order, get package, try on, thumbs down, return at Kohls, wander aimlessly, repeat.
To minimize returns, I’ve learned to rely on customer reviews. If one person says an item is chintzy, it usually is. If enough folks rave about a hoodie, it’s likely a good one. But this fact-finding takes a lot of time and blows any illusion of click-and-buy convenience.
A possible e-commerce upside is the entertainment unwittingly provided by overseas merchants who are painfully unaware of Google Translate. I recently bought (and returned) a loose, unstructured jacket that was described as having a “stylish eccentric collar” that you can wear to “participate in party clubs.” The sales pitch rapidly deteriorated from there, tact-wise: “It can completely cover the obese body and perfectly modify the figure.” What?
I’m not completely sold on this intergalactic shopping alternative, but I’m happy to report the shoes I “picked up” on the front porch at 1:30 a.m. fit like a dream.
Reach Denise Snodell at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on Twitter @DeniseSnodell -
Opinion: Confessions of a tall girl
"How's the weather up there?"
"Do you happen to play basketball?"
"Would you mind wearing flats?"
I am part of a distinct breed of women, a type that can often be spotted from a distance. Our demographic in America forms a relatively small group but one that is rather difficult to miss, unless we happen to be lounging in a chair, driving a car or tying our shoes.
Read the full article on the Daily Beacon website
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Options for Long Legs: Canadian Entrepreneur Launches Boutique for Tall Women
Women blessed with supermodel pins but struggling to find clothes to dress them, will soon have a new source to shop.
Brampton, Canada, January 07, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Most tall women can get away with some clothing in standard sizes; however, for wardrobe staples like jeans and trousers, it’s a headache trying to find longer lengths. Targeted at women 5’8” and above, Nickie’s fashion boutique, Regal Beauty Group, offers a fantastic selection of high quality, contemporary pieces at affordable prices.
The boutique embraces elegance and simplicity and will feature occasion wear constructed from refined fabrics that boast clean lines, sophisticated details and a touch of vintage. From dresses and trousers to skirts and blouses, super cool tall girls will no longer have to settle for standard size wardrobe pieces that look awkward. Sizes range from XS to Large with silhouettes that not only fit but flatter.
Sherisse Nickie is the Founder and Chief Executive Optimist (CEO) of Regal Beauty Group. Explaining her motivation for launching the boutique, she said: "Shopping for clothes can be challenging when you are above average height. As a tall woman myself, I understand the struggles when it comes to finding clothing that fits. It took a lot of deep soul-searching, introspection, and long sessions of brainstorming to take this idea from conception through funding and development, but I’m excited to be able to give other tall women more fashion options."
For further details or to be the first in line to browse and purchase from this elegant selection in tall fashion, visit: http://regalbeautygroup.ca/. Also, sign up to receive the latest scoop on promotions, sales, and new products.
Contact Information
Regal Beauty Group
Sherisse Nickie
647-882-3144
Contact
http://regalbeautygroup.ca/ -
Other Stuff
Here are is some stuff I couldn't find a place for elsewhere on the website. Here we focus a little more on the lighter side of things.
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Overlooking The Perfect Man: 5 Science-Backed Reasons Shorter Men Lead To Happily Ever After
Overlooking The Perfect Man: 5 Science-Backed Reasons Shorter Men Lead To Happily Ever After
The prince charming that may lead you to happily ever after may just be under 5-foot-9
Most women can describe the perfect man in three words: tall, dark, and handsome. Height is perceived as a show of capability, strength, and power, which in theory makes a woman's ideal mate. However, women who decide to tip the scales in favor of shorter guys are not getting the shorter end of the stick.
The average American man, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is 5-foot-9, 195.5 pounds, and has a waist circumference of 39.7 inches. Still, many women scoff at the idea of dating shorter men, dismissing their other attributes, especially in New York City. The likelihood of a man under 5-foot-9 being contacted by a Manhattan or Bronx woman online is a scant 1.2 percent, with Brooklyn coming in with a paltry 2.4 percent response rate, according to a study conducted by the dating site AYI.com, which analyzed 50,000 interactions over two months.
Women's preference for taller men stems from an evolutionary perspective that taller men generally tend to be healthier and better providers. The reasoning behind why our ape-like human ancestors began walking upright and why women like taller men has to do with the cavemen days. Men who were first to be upright on two feet had an advantage over those stuck on all fours, meaning they could hit harder and hit downward, giving standing men a clear advantage, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. For women, it wasn't about winning a fight but about who could defend the resources and family.
Despite the influence evolution has had on our natural preferences, it's time to go against the odds and see why dating shorter men may actually lead to happily ever after.
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Pam Stone: NC bathroom law has 1 tall woman worried
Joerg says: I'm just going to leave this here
By Pam Stone
For the Herald-JournalPublished: Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 6:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 8, 2016 at 9:18 a.m.This recent legislation that was allegedly hustled through in North Carolina, opponents will tell you, is far less about bathrooms and far more about the denying of civil rights.
The governor argues no civil rights have been changed.
Others who aren't sure can read the bill in its entirety.
But the bathroom aspect of it, the new "you must use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender recorded on your birth certificate" (although it appears no one told Pat McCrory that it is legal in North Carolina for a transgender to change their gender on their birth certificate), has quite frankly, made me pretty nervous. I mean, I go into North Carolina a lot on business, and in some of the larger cities there have been clashes as supporters have stood with cardboard signs reading, "NO MEN IN WOMEN'S BATHROOMS!" while proponents shout back, "NO HATE IN MY STATE!"
And then in the meantime, I might have to go to the bathroom. All flat-chested 6-feet, 2-inches of me.
Now, what would you do? Listen, I've been called "Sir" enough in my life by cashiers, not quite looking up as they've given me back my change (as well as one that stared me straight in the eyes and replied, "if you say so," upon my correcting her) to know that I could probably pass as a guy. An incredibly skinny guy with a penchant for hair bands, but a guy. Seriously, if you saw me walking along with Caitlyn Jenner, you'd probably think, "Huh, she looks OK, but weird that she didn't get breast implants."
So which bathroom should I go in if I encounter protesters or suspicious glances? And keep in mind this could be after lunch and two sweet teas and my bladder's about to pop. Do I go into the woman's bathroom, as usual, and risk threatening glares or do I dash into the men's and encounter possible violence and get so rattled that I make the horrific mistake of misjudging the urinal for a bidet? And will there now be Potty Patrols to enforce this new law? Exactly how will that work? Might make an interesting segment for Mike Rowe on "Dirty Jobs."
See, you normal women of the 5-feet, 5-inches variety will go your entire life without ever even entertaining such an idea. But we Amazons who can sling the average Joe on the street (or Mike Rowe, because he's pretty cute) over our shoulder without a break in our stride, we have to think about this. We also have to think about how to quietly strangle the passenger in front of us on a plane that just kneecapped us by suddenly reclining their seat all the way back, constantly.
Look, I know I'm making light of a serious situation — as a comic that's all I can do because I don't know what's going to happen about this law. Supporters argue that without it straight men can dress up in drag to pretend to be transgender (like straight men have a clue of how to match colors) and prey on women. And opponents say that if you force a transgender to use the men's bathroom, they could be beaten up in what would have been called a hate crime, but now there is no legal protection whatsoever for them. There appears to be a vigorous fight underway to have the law overturned with businesses already pulling out or threatening to, and the governor replies that he is fine with those businesses who disagree. And as a resident of South Cakkalakki, it doesn't matter what I think, anyway, as I can't vote in their next election.
But if I do find myself in North Carolina anytime soon after drinking a trough of The Beacon Drive-In's ice tea, I'll be easy to spot: I'll be the one at the wheel of the Dodge truck on Interstate 85, breaking the sound barrier to get back home.
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People Told Gwendoline Christie She Was Too Tall to Be an Actor
People Told Gwendoline Christie She Was Too Tall to Be an Actor
Gwendoline Christie is a talented actress best known for her roles on Game of Thrones and Star Wars Episode VII. Because of her role on Game of Thrones, most people see her a tough as nails woman that doesn't care what anyone thinks about her. As hard as it is for us to imagine, once the camera stops rolling, most celebrities are exactly like us. They have to go through life's ups and downs the same way anyone else has to. And although she may look like an extremely confident woman now, she had to struggle with the same thing that most of us had to deal with when we were younger, which body image insecurities.
When you look at her, it may be hard to see anything that Gwendoline could possibly be insecure about, but apparently, she was told for most of her life that she was too tall. So, did her height hinder her chances at becoming an actor? Here is what we know about Gwendoline's height and acting career.
Gwendoline is 6'3" tall. That is pretty tall by anybody's standards. In Hollywood's standards, however, being an actress over 6 feet tall is almost unheard of. As of today, there are only a handful of actresses that reach the 6 feet mark. For an actress, being anything over 5'10" is considered pretty tall, so we can only imagine how self-conscience Gwendoline must have felt trying to fit into a world that seems to be made of petite women.
Gwendoline Christie was subjected to bullying due to her height
Gwendoline grew up in a small village in England. She has referred to the school that she attended when she was a child as a "village school in the countryside." She has also said that she had already reached 5'7" when she was just twelve years old. By the time she was 14, she was over 6 feet tall. Being that she was probably the tallest kid in school - maybe even the tallest kid that the other children had ever seen - she had to endure years of being bullied and teased for her height.
When she was older, she had realized that she wanted to become an actress. She attended the infamous Drama Centre London and was told by her teachers that her height would make it difficult for her to land a prominent acting job. Her height did make it harder for her, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream.
Gwendoline Christie has embraced her differences
Even though other people had commented on her height throughout her entire life, Gwendoline had never looked at her height as anything negative. She had recently done an interview with Vogue. When the interviewer had asked her about being bullied as a child because of her height, Gwendoline replied: "I would rather talk now about how the obstacle has been overcome."
She then went on to talk about how she never really gave any thought to what other people's opinions were. In reference to when she first began acting, Gwendoline had said: "I never really gave too much stock to were the realities were, because it seemed even my infant mind that nothing interesting got done if you accepted the limitations other people put on you."
Luckily, Gwendoline had the right train of thought that allowed her to not only pursue her dreams but to achieve them as well. She has gotten several extremely prominent acting jobs in some of Hollywood's biggest movies. And thanks to her tall stature, she landed a lead role in one of the most-watched television shows of this decade. Manny girls now consider here a role model as they watched her transform into a tough warrior in Game of Thrones.
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Pirelli calendar 2015: The problem with 'plus-size' models like Candice Huffine
All this incessant worship of the hourglass, under the premise of promoting 'body confidence' has served to do is replace one very narrow beauty paradigm with another
Pirelli has cast its first ever so-called ‘plus size’ model, Candice Huffine, for its much-hyped annual calendar. For the uninitiated (and there is, lest we forget, no reason why you should be initiated – Pirelli does not sell its calendars to the public) the annual features high profile women posing in something (usually) shiny, latex-like and incredibly revealing. Supermodels and Hollywood actresses have consented to appear on the calendar’s pages in the past, hence its reputation for luxury and exclusivity.
I have a history of adamant refusal to be drawn into discussions about whether women who freely consent to pose in their undercrackers are being exploited, because I consider such conversations a waste of precious breath. I’m not about to start now. Whether the topic be page three, Kim Kardashian’s oiled posterior or the cast of the Pirelli calendar, my stance is the same: Suggesting that these women subconsciously collude with the patriarchy and that their decisions are therefore not their own is not only utterly snide, it’s the sort of attitude that stops young women from identifying as feminists.
(Please note: Candice Huffine is either 5'11" or 6'0" - so this article is height-related)
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Please help my good friend Ashley who is 6'7"
Please help my good friend Ashley who is 6'7" and the tallest woman in Ohio. Sadly Ashley is suffering from Marfan Syndrome and is currently in great pain
Ashley's Wheelchair & Medical fund
In 1992 I was 4 years old. It was during '92 that my father died from an aortic dissection. He was diagnosed, posthumously with Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can wreak havoc on every part of the affected person's body. He was a man who stood 7ft tall, played basketball for Iowa State University, and lived his entire life with a diagnosis he never received. Medical knowledge of Marfan Syndrome was just starting to form in the 90's.
Three years later, at the age of 7, I was diagnosed with the same disorder. At the age of 11, when I stood 6ft tall, I was told I had to stop all strenuous physical activity immediately, or risk a sudden, unexpected death (due to aortic dissection).
I stopped playing sports and started receiving annual echocardiagrams, and began seeing specialists at The Ohio State University's medical center.By the age of 18 my height finally began to slow, and I stood at a towering 6'7" tall. Let's just say THAT alone has been an adventure (LOL!). Don't be surprised if you see me walking around in an Ohio winter with capris on. At one time they were designed to be long pants but with 42" legs there's only so much a girl can do!
I married my first love, Robert, at the age of 18. He was in the Marine Corps and had just returned from his second deployment. We lived together in California until he was restationed in North Carolina. As soon as we got to North Carolina I found a new team of specialists at Duke Medical Center. They were fantastic. While many would complain about the military healthcare we received, I couldn't say a negative word. I was able to get the care & medications I needed to thrive!
Things were going well. I had several medical issues that were attributed to Marfan Syndrome (scoliosis, sciatica, became legally blind without glasses, etc) but they were nothing I couldn't manage with the help of the great team at Duke.
Robert & I in 2006, living in Twentynine Palms, CAHowever, my life was about to be rocked. In July of 2011 my best friend, a beautiful 19 year old gospel singer named Caitlyn Culpepper was murdered outside our home while I was asleep inside. She was a victim of domestic violence. My husband, at this point a Sgt in the Marine Corps with 8 years in the service and 26 months spent deployed, had been diagnosed with PTSD while serving his final tour in Iraq.
In September of 2011 Robert committed suicide in our home in North Carolina. I became a widow in my early 20's.
I came home to Ohio to try and rebuild a life for myself. By this point my physical health problems had started to affect my daily life. It was almost as if the grief and anxiety wrecked my body. I can honestly say I haven't been the same since.
Robert & I in 2010, we were at MCAS Cherry Point, NC hereIn the last three years my health has declined dramatically. When I lost my husband I no longer had my health insurance through the military. I could no longer afford doctor's visits, medications, and preventative care for basic health, let alone to manage my Marfan Syndrome.
One of the most painful and frustrating aspects of my condition is the effect it has on my bones. They're weak. Did you know that connective tissue has a huge impact in the formation of your bones?
In the last two and a half years I've had three stress fractures (two in my left leg, one in my right) and two tumors (which were determined to be benign but I was advised to have them monitored every 3-6 months to make sure they haven't grown or become aggressive).
I'm a 26 year old young woman who loves to laugh, joke, and have fun. But I have no quality of life left. I'm no longer able to walk through the grocery store because of lower back issues (a condition called Dural Ectasia) that cause intense pain, numbness, and tingling when I stand or walk for more than five to ten minutes. My health has deteriorated to the point where it's physically exhausting to get out of bed most mornings. My mental health is honestly about the same.
Due to my physical health problems I'm unable to work. I had originally begun Cosmetology School to become a nail artist. I thought if I could just make it through my year of schooling I'd be able to have a career that allowed me to sit. I made it 7 months before the pain was too overwhelming to continue.
I'm currently a full time student, majoring in Human Services. I want to help people who are in situations like myself. I want to be the person that answers the phone at your local agency (Job & Family Services, for example) who says, "It's going to be okay. And I'm going to do everything I can to help you". But I've come to realize, at the age of 26, that I may never have the chance to work. I may have to file for disability before the age of 30.In the meantime, bills are mounting. Medical bills, utility bills, etc. I have to visit local food pantries often in order to eat. I DO recieve a small benefit each month from the VA, but it wasn't designed to be able to live on. I was, however, attempting to keep my head above water.
Anyone who has lived through physical pain, mental anguish, and seemingly unclimbable mountains, knows that 'when it rains it pours'. And it's pouring for me.
The last two weeks I've been experiencing excruciating pain through my left leg. I went to the same orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed my first stress fractures and found out that they believe I have not only another tumor, but another stress fracture as well. And this one lines up with the first one I had on the other side of the leg. They meet in the middle and form a line straight through my leg.
I was devestated. Incase you don't know, a stress fracture is basically a broken bone that hasn't become completely detached from itself. And this is my fourth. I don't work out, I don't run, I don't play sports..I just have Marfan Syndrome.
I started to cry and asked the doctor what he wanted me to do. He immediately told me to get OFF of my legs. He said crutches weren't an option. That I could put all my weight on my RIGHT leg because that pressure can cause another fracture to develop there as well. He looked at me and said, "Ashley if you don't get into a wheelchair you could take a step and your leg could literally snap in half".
He wants me in a wheelchair.
As it stands now I have $60 to my name.
I don't want to take a vacation, I don't want to buy a new wardrobe or a fancy new car. I honestly just want to be able to get myself a wheelchair (I have to special order one because of my size), pay for the medications I'm supposed to be on (I haven't been able to fill my prescriptions in months..including my blood pressure medication), catch up on my utility bills, and be able to afford to give someone gas money to get me back and forth to the hospital/school/etc.
I have a neurology appointment at the Cleveland Clinic (approximately an hour and a half away) in early November. The scheduling nurse advised me to come to town the night before and get a hotel room since my appointment is at 7:30AM. I told her I'd be lucky if I could even afford to get there, let alone have the luxury of spending the night beforehand.
I haven't had my aorta checked for an increase in dilation in years. I'd LOVE to be able to get to all the necessary specialists to have my heart, eyes, lungs, etc examined- but truth be told, I'm living day by day right now.
And TODAY I need a wheelchair.
A friend of mine suggested I look into gofundme. She explained that there are amazing people in the world who want to help others like myself. I spent hours pouring over the different people who have posted & donated here and have been humbled by their generosity toward other gofundme campaigns. It's mind blowing.
Please know that I don't have my hand out waiting for people to donate towards my need. If all you're able to do is say a prayer for me or spend some time researching and familiarizing yourself with Marfan Syndrome, I'm so appreciative. Awareness is huge, and being so rare, connective tissue disorders don't get much. If all you're able to do is share my story on Facebook or Twitter, thank you.
Thank you so much for your time. God Bless You :)
-Ashley
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Plight of Pakistan’s tallest woman
Tariq Saeed - Updated Mar 24, 2017
TOBA TEK SINGH: Zainab Bibi, Pakistan’s tallest woman and a former holder of the ‘world’s tallest woman’ title in Guinness Book of World Record in 2003, has been suffering from diabetes and osteoporosis diseases.
She told reporters in her house in Rajana, 14 kilometres from Toba, that her height started increasing when she was 15. Now she is 45 years old. She said when she was 22, her height was 7’ 2.
Zainab has five sisters and belongs to a poor family. She is still single, as, according to her, her height was a hurdle in her marriage.
In 1998, she became a known figure when she appeared in PTV’s Neelam Ghar programme and in 2003 she was declared world’s tallest woman by Guinness Book of World Record. She has visited 15 countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Through public appearances in the country and abroad, she earned money. Back in 2008, she sought asylum in the UK on political grounds, but her plea was turned down.
She said when she was in exile in Saudi Arabia, she had met Nawaz Sharif there who had promised a monthly stipend and other measures to meet her needs after coming into power. She said she was just reminding Mr Sharif of his own words.
She said she was spending her days by using insulin and was even unable to go to hospital as she cannot travel by a bus or a rickshaw due to tallness and in critical illness she was forced to hire an ambulance to reach hospital. One of her sisters sells Pakoras outside the house and she bears Zainab’s needs. She urged the prime minister and the chief minister to help her get treatment and meet expenses.
Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017
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PM Nawaz fulfils promise to country's tallest woman, awards her Rs2 million
Zainab Bibi said the premier had promised to help her financially when he was living in Saudi Arabia under exile.
Tariq Saeed - Published Apr 12, 2017
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday fulfilled a promise he had made to Zainab Bibi - country's tallest woman at 7' 2" and a former holder of 'World's Tallest Woman' title in Guinness Book of World Record 2003 - and got a cheque worth Rs2 million delivered to her in her hometown in Toba Tek Singh district.
In a previous interview with Dawn, the 45-year-old Zainab said that she was suffering from diabetes and osteoporosis. She recalled her meeting with the premier back when he was living in exile in Saudi Arabia, claiming that he had promised her a monthly stipend as well as devise measures to facilitate her once he came to power.
Following up, the premier got a cheque worth Rs2 million delivered via the area's deputy commissioner to an ailing Zainab.
The seven-feet-two-inches-tall woman has five sisters and belongs to a poor family. She remains single, as, according to her, her height had been a hurdle in finding a suitor for marriage.
Zainab became a known figure in 1998 when she appeared in PTV's Neelam Ghar programme. In 2003, she was declared world's tallest woman by Guinness Book of World Record. She has visited 15 countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Through public appearances in the country and abroad, she was able to earn a living.
She uses insulin to get by and says she cannot even visit a hospital as her height makes it increasingly difficult to travel by bus or a rickshaw. During emergencies, she calls ambulances to travel.
Narrating her plight, Zainab said one of her sisters sells pakoras outside their house and cares for all of Zainab’s needs, which was an added burden on the poverty-stricken family.