I know this blog post is not that topical but I'm publishing it anyway

Written by my good friend Uche Belinda Nnoka 

I was reading a blog post a couple of days ago written by a gentleman who provides resources for people experiencing workplace bullying. He had set up this organisation as a result of his own experiences with bullying in the workplace.

His post was about workplace violence where victims, after prolonged harassment and injustice, snap and kill their colleagues. The author made statements along the lines that not enough work place bullies are shot and killed and it serves them right when it happens!

It was obvious that the author was still deeply affected by the workplace bullying he had endured some years ago. His article was written in such a way that if someone read it and upon doing so decided to kill the colleagues who were causing them such anxiety, he could potentially have been implicated for inciting violenceIt was obvious that the author was still deeply affected by the workplace bullying he had endured some years ago. His article was written in such a way that if someone read it and upon doing so decided to kill the colleagues who were causing them such anxiety, he could potentially have been implicated for inciting violence.

What is PTSD?

This again made me ponder the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The National Health Service (NHS) website describes PTSD as follows:
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. It is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others don't.

From what I understand people that suffer from PTSD will either explode or implode. We've all either read or heard about the tragic shootings that have taken place in US schools, but there are debates about whether or not these shootings were manifestations of PTSD as a result of bullying or some other trauma. For arguments sake, let's say that 50% of the shooters were bullied; their actions show that they exploded. They lashed out in revenge at those around them. Then you get the following group who we typically hear about. These are the ones who self-harm; they cut their arms, they take drugs, they drown themselves in alcohol and tragically some commit suicide. These are the ones who implode, or harm themselves instead of those around them.

People affected by PTSD

There is yet another group of people who we do not hear about as much, but who also have a form of PTSD. I have a suspicion that this group is the majority, but there aren't any concrete statistics to back up my theory. These are people who neither implode nor explode as in the examples given, but just limp through life. They have been emotionally scarred by an incident or incidents, and although though they do not lean towards either extreme, their entire lives are lived in the shadow of what happened to them.

I'll give you an example. During the 50's-80's it was common for families from African and Caribbean backgrounds who wanted a better life for themselves and their families to go abroad to the country of their choice and leave their children behind in the care of relatives whilst they tried to get themselves established. The logic was they wanted to send for their children once they had found a decent home for the family to live in along with secure jobs so that the transition for their children from one culture to another would be as smooth as possible. This was the situation that my friend Anna found herself in. Anna had been left in the custody of her aunt and unfortunately, like a lot of other children in the same situation, she was horribly abused by her mother's sister.

Anna's mother would send money to the aunt to contribute towards the food shopping and other expenditures, but Anna was starved on a regular basis. Clothes that were sent from Anna's for her to wear were instead given to her cousins by her aunt, so she was both hungry and unkempt. One day, unable to endure the hunger anymore, Anna snuck into the kitchen to get some food. She was caught by her aunt, who promptly beat her and tied her to a tree in the yard for the entire night. This episode led to Anna having a life long struggle with food; she would only ever eat a small bowl of food (which is the portion she was allowed when she lived with her aunt) in the evenings which was not particularly nutritious and was the cause of her weight issues. As Anna explained all these things to me, I recalled her also saying in a previous conversation that if she could live life without eating a meal, she would. Her trauma over her abuse lasted nearly 40 years.

There are many people who are living like Anna as well as like people in my previous examples. I would love to be in a position to work with these people to help them work through their trauma and help them get their lives back on track. One of my goals is to be able to study what PTSD truly is and get a professional qualification. One of the things I would love to be able to do is to give sound counsel to those I meet on my travels who are suffering in this way. If you would be interested in helping me realise this goal, please visit my GoFundMe page. When I start the course I will keep people abreast of my progress via this blog so keep checking in!

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The astonishing Lindsay Kay Haywardis part of a new series on TLC. It's called "My Giant Life" and will begin airing on the U.S. cable network on July 14 at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST.

All of the cast members are well over six-feet tall. The shortest woman featured in the show - Colleen, a 36-year-old former pro-Volleyball player – stands at six feet six inches tall and the tallest - Nancy Mulkey, a Texan high school basketball player - is six feet nine inches. Lindsay is not quite 6'9" herself (she officially stands at 6'8 3/4") and the World's Tallest Actress. As you can imagine these ladies have a lot to say about themselves and what challenges they are facing in their daily lives.

BYJULIE MAZZIOTTA @julietmazz

06/21/2016 AT 09:45 AM EDT

At 6'9", landing acting gigs is no easy task for actress Lindsay Hayward. And her bad head shots aren't helping.

To reignite her career, Hayward hires a photographer for new head shots in this exclusive clip from Tuesday's episode of My Giant Life.

"I'm here to get my head shots done, because last time I took head shots was a few years ago, so I definitely want to update my new, more radiant look," Hayward, 28, says in the clip. "I think that it's going to do wonders as far as getting my further in my acting career."

But as it turns out, Hayward is looking for less of a head shot, and more of a body shot.

"As a six-foot-nine-inch actress it's very, very important that I get full-length body shots because nobody believes how tall you are."

Hayward hates her old head shots because they were shot from an unflattering angle – by someone shorter than her – giving her a double chin.

"Everyone's looking at me from way down here and like I'm way up here, and when they look at me I've got that double chin angle, you know what I mean? It's not very flattering," she says. "Because I do have that as an insecurity, I need someone who's not taking that shot all the time."

"If I could change anything about my looks I would make my face a little bit thinner here," Hayward admits, pointing to her neck.

Luckily, she found a photographer, Sharon, who understands – even if she was a little surprised at Hayward's size.

"Holy cow, okay!" Sharon says. "I am used to working with much smaller people, so I was not expecting her to be as tall as she was."

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Another somewhat older article (written in 2012) but worth sharing

A girl who endured years of name-calling and even physical abuse because of her height has had the last laugh against school bullies - as she's now eyeing a career as a model.

Caroline Stillman, who was 6ft 4 by the age of 13, was once forced to become home-schooled because of the daily torrent of abuse she received from malicious pupils.

But now aged 20, the pretty blonde says she is finally happy with her size and has even been approached by model scouts who think she'd be perfect for the catwalk.

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Towering 6ft 4in mother who was taunted for looking like a MAN reveals how she has embraced her height - and now proudly dons heels to make herself even TALLER

• Mother Melanie Coulson, of Nottinghamshire, towers over most people at 6ft 4in
• She suffered years of bullying and strangers accused her of looking like a 'man'
• The 46-year-old has a rare hereditary condition that causes her to be extra tall
• Now she embraces her appearance and wears heels to make herself look taller 

By STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE - PUBLISHED: 10:43 BST, 7 August 2018 | UPDATED: 15:12 BST, 8 August 2018

A 6ft 4in mother who used to dream of being shorter revealed how she learnt to embrace her height - and now wears hears to make herself even taller.

Melanie Coulson, 46, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, suffered years of bullying over her appearance, with strangers stopping her in the street to ask if she was a man because she was 'too tall to be a woman'. 

The accounts administrator, whose height and slender limbs are symptom of a rare hereditary condition, took to stooping and wearing flat shoes in order to 'fit in' and longed to be shorter. 

However with the help of her daughters Rebecca, 26, and Hayley, 23, Ms Coulson learnt to embrace her height, saying she believes she was 'born to stand out, not blend in'. 

She now runs YouTube and Instagram channels encouraging others to love their bodies - and feels proud when she teeters around in heels that make her 6ft 10in tall.

She said: 'The best thing about my height today, is the fact that I have now come to terms with it, this didn't happen overnight and age has definitely been a big factor in this. I now stand by the moto: I was born to stand out, not blend in.' 

She added: 'I now wear heels for my videos that make me around 6ft 10in. I do get lots of stares, which is fine, as I used to get them anyway so I may as well get stared at for doing something that I love, which is being extra tall.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, which affects the body's connective tissue, with its main characteristics being long and slender limbs and being tall. According to the NHS, it affects one in 3,000 people.

She was 6ft 4in tall by the time she was a teenager.  

Growing up her unusual height meant she was bullied through school and was made to feel 'generally unattractive' by others in her twenties and thirties. 

'I have struggled with people's attitudes towards my height,' Ms Coulson said. 

'People are so quick to judge, and I am often asked if I'm a male or female, or if I am a transvestite, which I did find really upsetting in the beginning. 

'People do not realise how hurtful a comment like this can be, it's certainly not giving my ego a boost.

'When I have challenged people why they ask this, their reason is generally along the lines of "well you are too tall to be a female" which makes me sad that their attitudes are so shallow.'

Ms Coulson, who has a 36in inside leg, still struggles to buy clothes and is limited to shopping Dorothy Perkins or New Look's tall ranges.

The body positivity activist, who also wears a prosthetic eye and has vitiligo, hopes she can encourage anyone struggling to come to terms with who they are to be proud and embrace what some may consider 'flaws'.

She said: 'Through comments I get on my videos or on my Instagram I can see that I have already helped some people. I can honestly say I love my height and actually wish I was taller.

'I love to meet fellow tall women and stand in awe at them or ask for photos more recently so I can put it on my Instagram. Never did I realise that so many people love tall women.'

Read the original article (it has pictures and a video)

Woman who grew to 7ft tall thanks to undiscovered tumour marries man over a foot shorter

Laura Abernethy - Wednesday 9 Jun 2021 5:03 pm

From the age of 10, Elisane Silva started to notice she was much taller than her classmates, and even her family.

At that stage she was already 5ft 9 but she kept growing, and now the 26-year-old stands at 6ft 8in.

Her mother Ana Maria Ramos is just 5ft 4in and father Luiz Jorge is 5ft 7in so they didn’t think it was down to genetics.

They later discovered her stature is down to a benign tumour on her pituitary gland, which has caused an overproduction of growth hormone and a condition called giantism.

Elisane, from Salinopolis, Brazil, had no idea about the tumour until 2010 when she had tests on live TV, as her family was unable to pay for them.

Known unofficially as ‘Brazil’s tallest woman’, she married Francinaldo Da Silva Carvalho, 31, in 2015 and he stands at just 5ft 4in – 1ft 4in shorter than her

‘Since I was ten-years-old, I always noticed that there wasn’t something quite right as I was the only one in my family and class that stood at a staggering five-foot-nine-inches,’ Elisane said.

‘My mother is only five-foot-four-inches and my father is just five-foot-seven-inches, so it was a shock to our entire family when I was the tallest member at so young.

‘I began experiencing intense pain in my bones and a lot of pressure build up in my head which I believe was due to the excessive rate I was growing, so we decided to visit a medical professional./p>

‘They suggested performing a few routine tests to get to the bottom of why I was so tall, but as my family were unable to pay for the medical costs, this wasn’t an option.

‘However, a national television network approached my family after hearing my story and in 2010, we flew to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I appeared on national television and had all my tests done for free on behalf of the network.

‘Although this was embarrassing, I was just glad to finally have an answer and to stop the pain that I was going through as a result of my height.

‘As I received the results, medics found that I had a benign tumour growing on my pituitary gland which had caused an overproduction in my growth hormone and was the reason for my condition.’

Growing up wasn’t easy for Elisane and she was often bullied, with people calling her names like ‘giraffe’, ‘lamppost’ and ‘giant’.

The comments impacted her mental health significantly and she eventually left school completely.

‘I remember locking myself up at home as I felt so sick with the hurtful comments and words people were constantly saying to me,’ said Elisane.

‘I decided to give up and it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, as I wanted to continue studying but I knew that I wouldn’t last any longer in that environment.

‘At the time, I was seventeen-years-old, so my parents didn’t have much to say on the matter and I was really lost about where to go next in life.’

In 2011, she met Francinaldo and they quickly fell in love, despite the height difference.

‘I felt an instant connection the moment I met him, that I didn’t even notice his height. Francinaldo stands at just five-foot-four-inches, which is nearly two-foot shorter than me – but I didn’t care,’ she said.

‘Although he was curious about my height and condition, he didn’t make any evil comments, nor did he judge me for the way I looked.

‘I fell for him right there and then, as he was the first person to treat me like a human being and not some freak of nature.

‘Although there is an obvious height difference, we don’t see it as an issue as we love each other just the way we are and wouldn’t want anything to change.

‘In 2012, Francinaldo proposed to me and even though I was just a teenager, I wanted to spend my life with him.’

They married in September 2015 and went on to have a son, Angelo, three, who is currently 3ft 1in.

Elisane said: ‘Although we used to get comments from people in the street when we were walking together, I’m no longer the centre of attention now we have our beautiful son.

‘Angelo is already three-foot-three-inches at three-years-old, but I don’t believe he will grow to be as tall as me because I don’t think my condition is hereditary.

‘I think he will grow up to be average height – but even if not, he should embrace the unique asset he has been given.’

Elisane is now working towards becoming a professional model, which has been a dream since she was a teenager.

She said: ‘Although I haven’t been successful just yet, I usually go out and take professional photos of myself and add it to my portfolio to pass on to agencies.

‘Despite no agencies picking up on them yet, these photo sessions have helped my levels of confidence immensely and I have started to love myself for who I am.

‘I get comments from those online who see my photos, who have called me the ‘tallest woman in Brazil’ and although this is probably true, nothing has been made official yet.’

Although she spent many years feeling self conscious about her height, she says her family have helped her learn to love who she is.

She added: ‘I have learned to love myself for my unique height, as there’s no-one quite like me and I think that’s rather special.

‘I have found a good man to love, have a wonderful son, a beautiful family and I am grateful that God has taught me to overcome these obstacles in life.

‘Don’t let people’s evil comments interfere with your life, as it’s not for them to judge you based on how you look or who you love – stay true to yourself and you’ll live happily.’

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Phoebe Waller

As a gangly, long-limbed adolescent, I struggled to come to terms with my height. But as a full-grown, way more body confident adult, I'm happy to report that I'm a tall girl who wears heels and loves it. Where I used to shy away from comments about being a string bean while allowing gender norms about tall women to get me down, I can now embrace my nearly 5'9" self fully.

I was particularly tall for my age throughout school, always among the most bean pole-esque kids in my class. I cringe when I remember the boy I had a crush on in middle school. I was too afraid to stand next to him, simply because he was much shorter than me. Even though I can hardly believe it now, I used to balance on the outer sides of my feet in the hopes that this would take about an inch off my height, particularly because all my shoes had a slight platform. Nowadays, my fiancé is actually taller than me, but I wouldn't be bothered if I were the "stilts" in the relationship.

Although there are some struggles we tall girls face from time to time, like finding clothes to cover our limbs or never having enough legroom on planes, we shouldn't be creating more problems for ourselves based on what society and mainstream media deem attractive or feminine. This is why I love wearing heels as a tall girl.

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There are all sorts of reasons why millions of people go into nursing. Helping improve other people's health and lives, being in a role that makes a difference, working in a variety of environments, and having a flexible work schedule are just some of the benefits that you can receive from a healthcare role.

Regardless of the nursing specialty you pick, you may not realize that your height can make your job easier. If height is on your side, there are numerous advantages that you can gain when compared to those who are smaller than you. To find out more, here are 7 reasons why tall nurses have an advantage.

Reach Equipment Easier

Whether you're a neonatal nurse, nurse practitioner, or work in intensive care, in order to perform your job correctly, it's vital that you can reach equipment with ease to ensure the patient is receiving the best level of care. If a patient needs to have an IV drip inserted, the taller you are, the easier it will be to complete the process. Smaller nurses may have more difficulty attaching the IV bag, which is where your height will come in handy.
A taller nurse will also be able to monitor the IV bag throughout and be able to identify whether it needs to be changed, as it would be directly in your line of vision. Patients need to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence, so being able to handle and operate equipment with ease can help them feel more relaxed and settled. If you have difficulty reaching equipment, this can make a patient feel anxious.

Given More Respect

If you're passionate about healthcare and want to go into a career in nursing, you may not realize how your height can benefit you in terms of commanding authority and respect. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who will judge a person on height, especially if they are smaller than average. If you're a tall nurse, you may find that healthcare professionals give you more respect and take you more seriously.
When addressing your thoughts, opinions, and concerns, it's vital that your colleagues listen to what you have to say, so being a tall nurse may help you in these instances. Earning respect from both those who you work with and managers in your field can open more doors and build trust. If you would like to work with babies and obtain a midwifery degree, parents may trust your judgment more, purely down to your height.

Less Likely to Be Attacked

There are many benefits that you can receive from a career in nursing, but as you will be treating patients from all walks of life and backgrounds, there is an element of risk attached. Emotions can spiral out of control in tense situations, and as you will be dealing with individuals of all different heights and weight, there is the possibility that they could lash out in anger. If you're treating a patient with dementia for example, they may not realize that you're trying to help them, which can result in a physical assault.
If you're a tall nurse, you will have more chance of being able to defend yourself and restrain the patient. There are some patients who may see smaller nurses as weaker, making them more likely to lash out in frustration.

Enhanced Productivity

Research carried out by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that taller people tend to be more productive in their professions. The seven-year study was based on the hourly earnings of each of those researched throughout the course of the report. As a nurse, it's crucial that you're alert and in control when treating patients, so having higher productivity levels can help you deliver better care.
Those who are more productive are said to feel more satisfied and confident in their role, which can be beneficial should you wish to climb the career ladder and want to enter senior positions in the nursing field like management.

More Stamina

Throughout your nursing career, 12-hour shifts and being on your feet throughout come part and parcel with the job. To perform your role effectively, it's important that you have the energy and stamina to get through. Taller people will have longer legs, which can help you get from A to B quicker and reduce the risk of you feeling rundown and fatigued throughout your shift.
Regular exercise is a key component to becoming a successful nurse, so to boost your energy and keep you on track, taking 30 minutes out of your day to dedicate towards physical activity can be a big help.

You May Be Happier

Here is another advantage to smile about. Tall nurses are reported to exude more positive emotions than those who are smaller than them. Nurses that have a greater stature may be less likely to experience feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. When treating patients and communicating with other healthcare professionals, it's vital that you stay upbeat and positive, even in tough situations. So, feeling happier and more confident in your abilities will rub off to others in your field and can help build strong relationships with patients.

Better Observation

Whether you work in a hospital environment, doctors' clinic, or visit people in their homes, tall nurses have the advantage of being able to observe their surroundings better. Small nurses may not be able to assess the situation in the same manner, which can have a major impact on the care the patient receives.

There are lots of benefits that you can receive from being observant as a tall nurse, such as being able to identify any changes in a patient's health or patterns of behavior, as well as providing tailored care for older adults' needs.
If you are interested in a career in nursing, or you have already begun your training and learning, being taller than your counterparts may provide you with more advantages than you thought were possible. Your height can play a big part in how well you perform in a nursing role, so no matter what specialty of nursing catches your eye, there are many reasons why tall nurses have an advantage.

You'll never look at short guys the same way again

By Hayley MacMillen Nov 01, 2016

I know many an otherwise open-minded woman who swears that she would never date someone shorter than she is, and I used to count myself among them. I clock in at 5-foot-10, a good 6 inches taller than the average American woman, and had never considered dating a guy shorter than me until I ended up falling for one — and I’m happy I did. So much for that deal-breaker.

One 2012 study in the U.K. showed that in 92.5 percent of opposite-sex couples, the man was taller than the woman. According to the CDC, the average height difference between men and women is 5.5 inches (coincidentally — or maybe not — that’s about the same length as the average erect penis. Do with that what you will). And both men and women feel pressure to adhere to height norms: One 2008 study of college students found that about 50 percent of guys wanted their partners to be shorter than them, while 90 percent of women wanted their partners to be taller than them. I’m here to tell you that this requirement is overrated. Here’s why.

1. Guys who are comfortable with you being taller are likely comfortable with your ambition, intellect, and talent too. A guy who can look at all those statistics and societal pressures and say "eff that" is less likely to be threatened by other ways that you buck gender stereotypes — for example, instead of feeling weird about you getting a raise or showing off your superior sports knowledge, he’ll celebrate the fact that he’s with someone who doesn’t make herself smaller to accommodate others.

2. You don’t have to make any calculations about the height of your heels. While other women might feel like they have to pass on a perfectly cute pair of shoes or stick to flats so they stay shorter than their dates, you’re already taller than your man in bare feet, what’s the difference between being 2 inches taller or 5? Wear whichever killer heels your heart desires.

3. You’ll dramatically expand your dating pool. Finding someone who is socially, emotionally, intellectually, and sexually compatible with you is hard. Yes, it makes sense to narrow your pool of potential suitors based on what you value — it’s very reasonable to look for someone with a basic understanding of grammar, for example — but too long a list of non-negotiables can blind you to people who could make you very happy. The CDC has reported that about 59 percent of U.S. guys from 20 to 29 years of age are under 5-foot-10, the average male height, while only about 20 percent of guys exceed the 6-foot mark. If you "only date" men at least 6 feet tall, you’re shooting yourself in the foot as far as selection.

4. Dating shorter can help you get over your own insecurities about size. When I first started dating a shorter guy, I felt insecure: not about my own height but about whether I would read as "feminine" to my partner and, admittedly, to the world when we were out together. I even wondered with some concern whether I weighed more than he did, again, not because I felt like I needed to lose weight, but because I had absorbed the cultural script that says that women should be daintier than guys. But it’s not the Upper Paleolithic, and I don’t need anyone to defend me from a saber-toothed cat; it’s 2016, and we know that femininity is a social construct. If two people make each other laugh and want to have sex all the time, who cares which one is more compact?

5. Research suggests that short men do a larger share of the housework. A 2014 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research on men’s heights and relationship dynamics found that on average, short men (here defined as 5-foot-7 and below) did eight hours and 28 minutes of housework per week, or about 28 percent of the total. Tall men (6-foot-2 and above) completed about seven hours and 30 minutes a week, while men of average height did seven hours and 38 minutes. Yes, men of all statures are doing less housework than they should (how tall are the men who do 50 percent of it?), but short men are apparently less likely to leave their dirty dishes in the sink. Score.

6. Short men may also earn a larger share of the household income. The same paper found that 78 percent of short men out-earn their partners, as opposed to 69 percent of average men and 71 percent of tall men. That isn’t necessarily in and of itself a good thing (cough, gender wage gap, cough), it does suggest that short men are doing more to support their partners in terms of both housework and finances.

7. Short men are least likely to divorce. Finally, the paper showed that while divorce rates for tall and average-height men were comparable, they were 32 percent lower for short men. Maybe short men’s partners are enjoying sharing the housework, financial support, and willingness to flout stereotypes in favor of a strong relationship.

Follow Hayley on Twitter.

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Being taller than almost every other woman (and man) that you meet can have an impact on the way others perceive you, and it is not uncommon for people to assume that a tall woman is older than she is. Of course, this can have its advantages (especially when you are a teenage young woman trying to be viewed as an adult), but there may come a time when you would rather look more youthful.
If you are feeling that your age is beginning to show, or that your height has always made you look older than your years, here are seven steps to a more youthful appearance.

1. Stay active

Physical activity is not only essential for your physical and mental health; it also boosts the flow of blood around your body. This means that more oxygen travels through the body, keeping cells healthy and giving them what they need to regenerate, while also helping toxins leave the body. Exercise has also been found to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety, which can cause premature wrinkles.
It is also important to eat a varied diet to ensure your skin is getting all the nutrients it needs.

2. Consider cosmetic facial treatments

If your face is already showing signs of premature aging, a cosmetic treatment such as Botox injections could help to turn back the clock. The injections cause the muscles in the face to relax which smooths out lines and wrinkles. The results are not permanent, but the treatment can be repeated.

3. Stay hydrated

Dehydration can lead to dry and wrinkled skin and can also prevent your body from flushing out toxins or functioning to its maximum potential. Drinking plenty of water each day can give the skin more elasticity and moisture, and will generally help your mind and body. Click here for more on the benefits of drinking water.

4. Clean your face every night

Before you go to bed each night, take a few minutes to clean your face, even if you do not wear make-up. At night your skin cells will try to repair and rebuild any damage done during the day, and if dirt or make-up are in your pores, this process will be hindered, and your skin cells will not regenerate.

5. Wear sunscreen

It is well known that UV rays from the sun cause significant damage to the skin’s elasticity and collagen which can lead to freckles, red skin, blotches, age spots, and even cancerous growths. This is why it is vital that you apply sunscreen every day as part of your normal skincare routine, even if you are not planning on spending much time in direct sunlight.

6. Apply night cream

A night cream will help to keep your skin plump and hydrated while also supporting cell regeneration. The skin around the eye is usually more delicate and therefore prone to wrinkling, so it is worth investing in high-quality eye cream.

7. Be gentle with your skin

When cleansing or applying products to your skin, avoid harsh chemicals and do not rub, as this can create additional skin complications. Instead, pat the skin gently and allow it to dry naturally to promote absorption of the products.

Pakistan's tallest woman, Zainab Bibi, passed away on Thursday.

Zainab was admitted to Allied Hospital Faisalabad, two months before. She was 46 years old at the time of death. She was reportedly suffering with diabetes and osteoporosis.

Zainab was 7 feet 2 inches and in 2003 was declared the world's tallest woman, earning her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

In an interview to Dawn newspaper last year, she said that she was striving to make ends meet owing to her illness and lack of financial cooperation from the government. And her sister had to sell pakoras in order to make ends meet.

After that Zainab Bibi was handed over a cheque worth Rs 2 million by the government by the government of Nawaz Sharif to ease her predicament.

Her funeral ceremony will be held in her ancestral village Rajana, Toba Taik Singh.

8 Things My Very Tall Daughter Can Expect

by Ali Solomon
Posted:03/18/2015 10:26 am EDTUpdated:03/18/2015 10:59 am EDT

You can't escape your genes, my dear girl. I was 5'9" by the time I was in fourth grade. Your father tops out at around 6'3". That means you will be very, very tall. Not quite "America's Next Top Model" tall, or WNBA tall. More like "stuck in the back of every class photo" tall, or "can you reach the soup on that top shelf for me, dear?" tall. This will not be the social coup you think; like your parents, you may endure your share of taunts and nastiness, with the promise of someday you'll appreciate being tall to carry you through.

As you continue your upward trajectory, here are a few things you can expect:

1. You will experience a series of minor disappointments.

You will outgrow your tricycle after only riding it once.

You won't be able to go on kiddie rides at the amusement park.

Your gymnastics career will be short-lived.

That purple jacket you loved now ends a full three inches above your wrist.

No one will want to give you piggyback rides.

And I've looked for weeks, but those Dora the Explorer light-up sneakers you covet don't come in your size. Sorry, hon.

Sorry for it all.

2. Everyone will know you're tall.

You're not fooling anyone. You can hunch your shoulders, duck behind people or pull your knees to your chest when you sit. It changes nothing. You just become the "tall girl with the bad posture."

Unlike short girls who can wear heels, there's nothing you can do to adjust your height. I remember it well, and it's hard to embrace something you're still growing into. But if you hulk around like a velociraptor, everyone will think you have spine issues.

3. People will think you have skills you don't possess.

I remember loving the fact that I was picked first for sports teams. To be fair, I had no athletic ability whatsoever (I was the type of kid who would drop a ball and then immediately trip over it). But for that brief moment before anyone actually saw me play, my height convinced people otherwise.

If people who see your your elongated limbs assume you run fast, are graceful or have coordination, don't correct them. By the time they learn the truth, you'll already be the team captain.

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Lindsay Mack

There are plenty of style guides that promise to make you look taller, but what about the women who are already tall by any standard? They face their own sets of challenges, such as tops that fit strangely in the arms and pants that are always around ankle length. Fortunately, there are tall girl fashion hacks designed to help the women who will never need to set foot in the petite department.

Fun fact: one of my best friends is almost six feet tall, and she has to try on about a million outfits before finding ones that even begin to fit. Sometimes even the “tall” sized pants at certain department stores still look like high water pants on her. And finding skirts that are close to knee length? Forget about it. However, she can rock a bold print like nobody’s business.

As with any body type, there are benefits and drawbacks to dressing a tall frame. Some items of clothing can be particularly tricky; anything sold as a miniskirt for women of average height may be borderline indecent on a very tall lady. But a tall woman can look like an elegant goddess in a flowy maxi dress that would overwhelm her shorter peers. It’s all give and take. So here are the best fashion hacks for the 5'9" and up crowd.

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Fact One:

There are loads of tall (or extremely tall) women and teenagers like 6'11" Marvadene or 6'5" Emma out there who know what you are going through. Some girls may even be able to lend you an open ear or support of sorts. You decide what is going to happen here, alright? Fill out the form below and tell me what you're missing here (and, no, it's not all about meeting boys!) ;-)

Fact Two:

In a lot of cases all tall young women lack is confidence. If you have enough confidence you'll find how exciting being tall can be. I came across a very useful website today after discussing the confidence / shyness factor with some young UK friends of mine. Thanks to Sacha and Jo for reminding me of the confidence factor!

You could also tell me if you find anything on this website that you find unsuitable for you or other girls your age (or even younger) - I promise  to look into it and even take down the features / links concerned.

What you can / should / shouldn't do

Perhaps you want to tell your own story. Feel free to get in touch with me and tell us how you're feeling, what you feel you're lacking (in regard to support from parents, teachers, friends etc.) and what you think is great about you. Or what is it that you don't like about yourself? I bet you'll find later that being a kid / teen was half as bad as you then thought. :-)

Of course there are bad things that could happen to a tall girl. Read what my friend Tiffany had to go through instead of a enjoying a great Prom Night. This is a very sad story but Tiffany has come out of it stronger than ever before. She has found herself a cute boyfriend now and - as far as I know - the two are now happily married!

If you still don't like being tall or even hate it - don't despair. I know that it's not easy being a teenager (I've been there myself a long time ago). Talk to people you trust. Don't give in to stupid comments from class"mates" or even teachers. Being a teacher doesn't always qualify a person for being a good human being (I've found that out too - years ago).

Get rid of "friends" who have a negative attitude towards you because they aren't your friends. Make sure you feel good and do whatever it takes to assure that you feel good. You still rule!

It's lonely at the top.

By Katrina Valcourt

Published: 2019.02.14 03:55 PM

I was renewing my license at the DMV on fort Street Mall when a man motioned for me to take a seat on the bench near him.

"How tall are you?" he asked. Just under 6 feet, I said, still a little sad I never crossed that threshold. He was at least 5 inches shorter than me and seemed impressed, as if this is something I should be proud of, that I worked hard for and deserve to celebrate.

It's not on purpose, of course, though my friends in elementary school used to ask me how to get taller, or how to run faster, my only athletic attribute. We'd spend recess sprinting across the field as I coached them on taking longer strides and pumping their arms, you know, like they mean it.

In Hawai'i, I'm an anomaly, at times heads taller than my friends. It makes dating rough, especially around this time of year when everyone seems to be in a relationship. Many women prefer guys who are taller than them, but that pool gets a lot smaller when you're approaching 6 feet yourself. According to the CDC, Hawai'i has the shortest men (and women) in the nation. I'm 9 inches taller than the average Hawai'i woman and 3 inches taller than the average Hawai'i man, and that's according to self-reported data, which is most likely exaggerated. Plus, there are so many other qualities I'd want in a partner, the odds of finding someone who meets them all and can change the ceiling light are pretty slim, unless I move to Alabama or Iowa (average male height: 5 feet, 11 inches).

It's unfortunate when I see really cute Fighting Eel dresses that look great on the petite crowd but turn into HR infractions on me. Long bus or plane rides where I can't stretch out are torture, and the stall doors of the Republik bathroom barely come up to my chest when I'm standing. I literally have to duck to avoid hitting my head in the Waterfront Plaza parking garage, while my friends don't have to think twice about it.

My height is the first thing people notice about me, even though I stand out in other ways here, sometimes as the only white person in the room, the only person with hazel eyes, the only one with naturally blond strands of hair. I'm a lefty who puts butter on my rice and can't hold chopsticks properly. Aside from the few years I was most known for wearing fluorescent orange high-top sneakers every day, I'll always be described as "the tall girl" no matter where I go.

But being tall can be great. I'm easy to spot in crowds, I can see over everyone at concerts, no one mistakenly walks off with my size 10 slippers at house parties, I can grab things that fall behind the couch without having to move it. It's fun meeting other tall people and trading stories of the lowest shower heads we've had to crouch under or the shortest guys we've ever dated.

It can be discombobulating running into anyone over 5 feet, 8 inches. The tallest women in the country are in South Dakota, and they only average 5 feet, 5 inches, which is maybe around my chin. I stick out everywhere. But that doesn't mean I'm taking off my heels.

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Playing a woman discovering sexuality in the '50s makes actor Allison Janney think of — of all people — her mother. Janney's mother and father got married in their early 20s, and she doesn't believe her mother had sex with anyone else.

"I remember my mother talking to me about the birds and the bees," she tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. "Of course, I had already known [about them], probably years before she came to me. But remembering the way she talked to me about it — it's just everything about her reminds me of Margaret Scully."

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Allison Janney: ‘I would get cast as 40-year-old women when I was still in my teens’

Janney, who didn't find success as an actor until she was in her late 30s, thinks things are looking up for women – even very tall women – in Hollywood

By Tara Brady

There is a story from Hollywood's golden age that tells us that Lana Turner, upon visiting her tailor, looked over at a dress dummy for the Irish-born Greer Garson and sniffed: "She's a very tall woman."Was Turner being euphemistic? Perhaps not. It's not easy being tall in Hollywood. Just ask Allison Janney.

"It was really hard for me to get cast in anything for a long time," she says. "I would get cast as 40-year-old women when I was still in my teens. There just wasn't a lot of work out there for people of my height."

No wonder she is giddy talking about Spy, a new espionage caper from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig that brings together Janney (1.83m) and Miranda Hart (1.85m) as handlers for unlikely CIA operative Melissa McCarthy (1.6m).

"I've known and admired Melissa forever," says Janney. "And we hit it off immediately with Miranda, who is just glorious. We really want to work together again. We're going to have to find or write a play for tall women."

Spy boasts a plot that is at least as good as the last two Bond films, with plenty of Pink Panther-worthy bumbling. Even better, Janney gets to boss Jason Statham around.

"I only knew him as the consummate screen tough guy," she says. "But it turns out he's charming and funny and loves to be silly. He's just delightful. And it was just a playful shoot. I think I made up a new swear word."

Standing up for herself

In truth, we're not too surprised to see The Stath cowering and sulking at Janney's every command. As CJ in The West Wing, she was quite capable of slapping down her own president ("That's fine. Just don't show off"), while her steely stand-off with the ultrasound technician in Juno is perhaps that film's finest moment.

"People talk about mom roles," says Janney. "But mom roles can be pretty interesting."

She has, indeed, recently taken home an Emmy – her sixth – for her work on Mom, the Chuck Lorre-produced multi-camera sitcom concerning a mother (Janney) and daughter (Anna Faris) who are both recovering addicts.

"Mom is the best day job I ever had," she says. "It's two weeks on, one week off, which is very civilised after the 17-hour days on The West Wing. Glorious even. So I've been able to do HBO's Masters of Sex , which I loved doing also, alongside Mom.

"I'm so grateful to have stumbled into such a great show at this point in my career. It manages to take very serious topics like addiction and make them funny. Because in the end, isn't that how people get through things?"

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I am a statuesque, 6'4'', multi-faceted, fun loving, life living woman. When people ask what my likes are, it would actually be easier to tell them my dislikes. There are very few things in life that completely offend me, I have learned that to take offense to others' perceptions, is to limit your own ability to see things differently. I allow myself to absorb whatever is thrown at me, disect it, and essentially let it go. Yes, I may rant for a moment, and some things do stick with me, but overall, life is entirely too short to be burdened by another persons lack of intelligence.

About Amanda

I am a statuesque, 6'4'', multi-faceted, fun loving, life living woman. When people ask what my likes are, it would actually be easier to tell them my dislikes. There are very few things in life that completely offend me, I have learned that to take offense to others' perceptions, is to limit your own ability to see things differently. I allow myself to absorb whatever is thrown at me, disect it, and essentially let it go. Yes, I may rant for a moment, and some things do stick with me, but overall, life is entirely too short to be burdened by another persons lack of intelligence.

Joerg says:

I can attest to that. Amanda is a wonderful, confident, outspoken, strong, intelligent and beautiful lady (inside and out). I'm honoured to call her a friend.

Here are Amanda' contributions

• How do they do it?
• For the love of shoes

For the Love of Shoes

Food, shelter, and clothing; these are the three basic needs for any human. Within the subject of clothing falls the category of shoes. Many people view shoes as a mere necessity, granted there are tribes of indigenous peoples, worldwide, who have never worn shoes, but for the majority, they are a necessity. They have developed through the ages either to serve a purpose, or to serve as a status symbol. Ancient civilizations created shoes such as flip-flop style sandals out of necessity. However, as villages grew to cities and the people became pided by status, the shoes became more elaborate.

As time progressed, so did the styles, and the ideals of what was sexually pleasing. In ancient China, the process would begin at around age three, creating "lotus" foot. The most pleasing was no more than 3" in length, and the process involved broken bones, a lifetime of problems, inability to stand without help. This barbaric tradition was reserved for the rich, but was later outlawed. In Europe, a similar procedure was done, to a lesser degre.&np;

In Europe, around the time of the Renaissance, people became more enamored with their personal presentation, and shoes of the time followed suit. Royalty and Nobles were quick to jump on the latest bandwagon such as Chopine style shoes, a dreadfully horrid design for shoes that involved a raised platform, without a heel; apparently, the style has tried to make a comeback. They did serve a minor purpose of aiding the wearer in keeping their skirts out of the mud and muck as they traversed the roads.

During the Baroque and Rococo periods more stylishly heeled shoes for both men and women were developed.  Again, the shoes were useful in salvaging dresses and clothing from mud, they also became the pattern for more modern footwear enjoyed today.

Skipping along into the future… 

Today’s society is not much different than yesterday’s, with regard to shoes, their need, and the status symbol of some brands. The fashion industry has become one of the largest venues of worldwide domination. What a person wears can make or break them in certain social settings or groups. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the shoe industry. Names such as Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Prada, and Valentino grace the red carpets of Hollywood.  Their shoes sell for upwards of $1000 or more. Occasionally one could hit the sale rack at Nordstrom and score with a pair of last year’s shoes for $500…if you are lucky enough to wear a size 11 or below.

Ah yes, herein lies the greatest form of discrimination the world has ever seen. Women who stand proudly above the average height of 5'8" and wear shoes sizes beginning with 11 and reaching up to a size 15, some even larger than that. These proud Amazons of the modern world find themselves scouring the planet for simple necessities. Clothing is painful enough. Average and petite women complain that they cannot find anything to fit them, garnering looks glowering with an “are you kidding me” ire. Sorry girls, you can hem things up, but once a finished product comes out of a factory, it cannot be let out.

Shoes present an entirely different set of issues. Many women enjoy wearing a nice pair of dressy shoes out to dinner or to Church on Sunday mornings. They enjoy dressing up, shucking the attire of the daily grind, and transforming into beautiful swans ready to impress others out on the town. A typical Saturday night for most women includes picking the perfect outfit, stunning shoes, makeup, hair, and accessories. For women with larger feet…the shoes become a painful reminder of their stature.

Let us begin with picking the shoes at a store, if they are lucky enough to find a store carrying their size. First, the lady (who does not have funds to pay $1000 for a pair of shoes) will go into said store, briskly walking past the beautiful racks of designer shoes all size 10 and below. They saunter to the back of the store where perchance there is a tiny display with approximately three styles in her size. Mind you, there will be the styles in perhaps one or two colors, that’s it, end of story. One style will be the God-forsaken old woman style orthopedic pump that comes in an awful shade of nude, that’s out. Next will be a classic pump in navy or black, but it is more suited for a business suit at the office. Then there is the third choice. It is the distant cousin of a beautifully crafted heeled sandal, however, this one appears to be designed by and ancient person with the design taste of dung beetle. Our lady begrudgingly chooses the pump, and looks at the boxes for her size. Typically, she wears a size 13 W, today however, she lucks up and they have one pair of regular 13's in stock. Anxiously she grabs the box, and sits uncomfortably on the miniature stools provided. She then pulls one shoe out of the box, crosses the corresponding foot over the knee and attempts to insert Tab A into Slot B. The toes slip easily through the leather, or extremely well made wannabe leather, then comes the heel…our lady scrunches her toes up as tightly as possible in a desperate attempt to fold her foot in half, slipping the heel into the back of the shoe. Perhaps the Chinese had something with the whole foot-binding thing. With a deep breath and a prayer, she releases her toes, and her foot is in! Oh, these are actually kind of cute, in a grotesque, torturous way. Our heroine, psyched that she actually got the shoe on, attempts to stand up. At this point, all her weight shifts into the shoe with its unforgiving leather upper. The toes gasp for breath, the heel shrieks in agony, and our lady sits with a resounding sigh, knowing they will not do.

She leaves this store empty handed, grabs her trusty smart phone, and frantically searches for women’s plus size shoes. Instantly 3-4 store names pop up, unfortunately none of the stores are anywhere nearby. Then, she sees one more entry, a store 20 miles away, SCORE! Hurriedly she hits the road on a quest to procure shoes for the night.  Entering the store, a specialty boutique for plus sized women, she’s not quite plus sized, but her feet are. She browses the store for the shoe section, again tucked far in the back. She makes her way to the displays a notices a slightly larger selection of shoes, some cute, some ugly, but that is typical. She peruses the selections and finds a nice pair of heeled sandals, much nicer than the previous store’s offering. Looking at the shoe boxes, she finds a pair marked 13W, double score! Again, she lowers her frame to the little bench, and begins the arduous task of testing the shoes.  She slips her toes into the leather straps, the ball of her foot sitting easily on the sole of the shoe. Next, she finesses the heel strap over her heel, easy enough. Lastly, she buckles the shoe on and stands… they fit! Well, sort of. There is a slight hanging over of padding, like a muffin top bulging over the waistband of a pair of jeans. However, they will work. Delightedly she pays the $100 for the slightly ill fitted shoes, and walks out the door with a renewed bounce to her men’s sneakered step!

So, to conclude this diatribe of shoe history and adventure, why is it that women of larger foot proportion are so tortured by designers? Why is it they cannot walk into a local department store and pay $20 for a decent pair of cute shoes that may only last the season, but hey, that’s all she really wants. To be in style for a short time, instead of being force to purchase higher priced shoes that she must then use kid-gloves and guard with her life. Let’s face it, beautiful, affordable shoes are a commodity for any woman wearing a size 11 and up.  Most companies will produce only 2-3 styles, with limited colors to sell. To add insult to injury, they will produce such a limited amount of these shoes that women will engage in arguments with store managers, and will even have to fight off Drag Queens to secure the goods.

Dear Designers,

Please hear us!! IF YOU MAKE THEM, WE WILL BUY!!! But understand, not all of us want a pair of shoes that cost 2 mortgage payments. Not all of us want to buy shoes that we will be afraid to wear outside; for fear they might be scuffed. We want shoes; we want selection, color, and styles as varied as the cities and towns in which we live. We want what every other fashion forward woman wants…to be able to shop in stores where we can try on the product before purchasing, walking around admiring the look and feel before we buy a pair that will give us blisters the sizes of small islands on the backs of our heels.  We want as much choice as other women, the petite women and average women to which you cater. This plea does not apply only to dress shoes; we want flip-flops, sneakers, house shoes, and heels. We want to be on an equal playing field in the fashion industry.