Longest baby to tallest woman: Rumeysa's message of self-love as she breaks new records
The world’s tallest woman Rumeysa Gelgi is celebrating her 10th anniversary as a record holder by adding two new titles to her long list of achievements.
Rumeysa, from Türkiye, first entered the record books in 2014.
It was exactly 10 years ago this week that we unveiled her to the world as the tallest female teenager.
A decade later, the 27-year-old, whose record-breaking height is caused by a very rare condition called Weaver syndrome, has just claimed her seventh and eighth record titles, being recognized as the longest female baby and as having the longest ears on a female.
She told us: “Over the last decade, I’ve had an incredible journey with Guinness World Records. I have had many opportunities to share my story and outlook, even in places I never dreamed of reaching.
“I have received a lot of empowering messages from the public after being introduced as a record holder, I felt that I could turn my unique condition, which was seen like something very bad, into a blessing for myself.
“This had a very positive impact on my mental health. I also became more confident than ever.”
Rumeysa, who last year was the subject of Guinness World Records documentary, Rumeysa: Walking Tall, already held these records:
• Tallest woman living - 215.16 cm (7 ft 0.7 in)
• Longest finger on a living person (female) - 11.2 cm (4.40 in)
• Widest hand span on a living person (female) - 22.6 cm (8.9 in)
• Largest hands on a living person (female) - right hand measures 24.93 cm (9.81 in) and left hand measures 24.26 cm (9.55 in)
• Longest back on a living person (female) - 59.90 cm (23.58 in)
Rumeysa was 17 when she was named tallest teenager
And as we know, she was previously the tallest teenager living (female).
Now, she has two more records to her name.
Rumeysa and her mum Safiye Şahin Gelgi (Türkiye) have been named joint holders of the record for longest baby (female).
When Rumeysa was born on 1 January 1997, she measured 59 cm (1 ft 11 in) – a fact that stunned her fellow record holder Samantha Ramsdell when they met in the US for Rumeysa’s GWR documentary.
Rumeysa at one month old
The longest baby (male) was born to giantess Anna Bates (Canada, c. 1846-1888) in January 1879.
He measured 71.12 cm (28 in) and tragically died just 11 hours later. He was known only as “Babe”.
Rumeysa has also claimed the record for longest ears on a person (female). Her ears have an average measurement of 9.58 cm (3.77 in).
She said: “My motivation for breaking this record is my ears are obviously large and this has unfortunately been one of the main things I’ve been bullied for throughout my entire life.
“I was even told to undergo cosmetic surgery to ‘fix’ my ears, even though I never needed to do it.
So, I thought that it would be a very strong message to break another record with something I was previously mocked for.
“I receive a lot of questions about my ears, such as if they cause a problem,” Rumeysa added.
“My ears don’t cause any discomfort for me. Actually, having large ears brings some benefits.
“I have an impressive hearing ability. I can even hear people whispering in other rooms of the house.
“I’m serious! There are scientific explanations that have proven larger ears collect more sound waves and hear better.
“Another good side is that I love jewellery and I always have enough space to wear as many earrings as I want.”
Rumeysa admits it feels pretty surreal to still be breaking new records after 10 years, but as an advocate for those with visible differences, she’s proud to have broken so many records with her natural form.
She told us: “The main message I hope to convey to everyone through breaking these records is sometimes people make you believe what you have is a curse, but it can actually make you a multiple record breaker.
“Sometimes people ask me, ‘If you could be born again, would you choose not to have your syndrome?’
“I can’t answer yes to this question because if I had not gone through all the challenges and was not who I am today, I wouldn’t be an eight-times Guinness World Records title holder now.
“So, believe it or not, I wouldn’t want to be any other way and my aim is to encourage everyone to feel happy in their own skin.”