Most of us think our life is good as long as we’re tall enough to reach the top shelf without using a ladder. But for these women, that’s never been a problem. In fact, their height turned them into legends! From being stars on the basketball court, to stunning fashionistas on the runway, to simply breaking world record lists.
Let’s measure the tallest women in history, from shortest to tallest, and see who’s at the top!
9. Rita Miniva Besa – 6’8” (2.03 m)
Standing at 6’8″, Rita Miniva Besa from Zimbabwe made headlines not just for her height but for her larger-than-life personality. She’s held a Guinness World Record since 2016 and is also recognized as one of the heaviest women alive, weighing in at 330 pounds. Rita uses her fame as a platform to promote body positivity and challenge conventional beauty standards.
8. Caroline Welz – 6’9″ (2.06 m)
Caroline Welz, from Germany, is often called “the most beautiful giantess in the world.” At 6’9″, she’s one of Europe’s tallest women and works as both a tailor and a model. She’s famous not only for her height but for embracing it with confidence and style, often walking the runway and setting up fashion shoots like they’re daily chores.
7. Malee Duangdee – 6’11” (2.12 m)
Malee Duangdee stood 6’10” tall and was a Thai model and actress before her passing in 2016. Her unusual height was caused by a tumor on her pituitary gland, and she became Thailand’s tallest woman. She used her spotlight to raise awareness about rare medical conditions, especially those that affect growth.
6. Gitika Srivastava – 6’11” (2.12 m)
India’s Gitika Srivastava reached an impressive 6’11” and played basketball at a national level. She represented India’s women’s team and later turned her focus to entrepreneurship. She’s the founder of a tech startup and holds degrees from both MIT and Harvard. She’s smart, strong, and kind, and her height is just a big bonus to her personality.
5. Rumeysa Gelgi – 7’1” (2.16 m)
Rumeysa Gelgi is currently the tallest living woman in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Standing at 7’1″, this Turkish colossus was born with a rare condition, the Weaver syndrome, that causes rapid growth. She’s also a front-end developer, researcher, and public speaker, using her visibility to educate people about rare disorders and advocate for acceptance.
4. Uljana Semjonova – 7’1” (2.16 m)
Uljana Semjonova was a basketball powerhouse during the Soviet era. The Latvian legend helped the USSR win two Olympic gold medals and nine European Championships. Her shoe size is a massive men’s 21, and she was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, leaving behind a legacy that still inspires athletes today.
3. Malgorzata Dydek – 7’2” (2.18 m)
Margo Dydek, the tallest player in WNBA history, was also 7’2″. Hailing from Poland, she played for several teams, including the Connecticut Sun. She entered the basketball court when she was already 6’8″ at just 16, and quickly became one of the best-known players. Dydek sadly passed away in 2011 from cardiac arrest, but her career remains legendary in women’s sports.
2. Sandy Allen – 7’7″ (2.31 m)
Sandy Allen from Illinois, USA, was the tallest woman in the world for much of her life. She reached 7’7″ due to a pituitary tumor that caused gigantism. Surgery helped stop her growth, and she used her fame to educate others through public speaking and her book “Cast a Giant Shadow.”
1. Yao Defen – 7’8″ (2.33 m)
On the very tippy-top, there’s a place for only one person, and that’s China’s Yao Defen – one of the tallest women ever recorded. At 7’8″, she was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in 2010. Like many others on this list, her height was the result of a pituitary gland tumor. Yao overcame poverty and health struggles to become an international figure before sadly passing away in 2012.
