Shirley Won
Special to The Globe and Mail

University of Ottawa student Leila Moumouni-Tchouassi has struggled to finance and finish her degree over the past six years. But she aims to finally get her BA in international development and globalization in 2019 and then find a job as a community services worker. After juggling full- and part-time jobs and helping her parents financially on occasion, she is feeling the strain of owing $30,000 on her government student loan and $6,000 on her credit card.

"Most of my stress comes from all this debt," says the 23-year-old undergrad who works for her university's student union as well as part-time at a clothing store for tall women. "I am 6 foot 5 and my clothes are very expensive. I started working at the store so that I could get a discount on clothes." Many students are relying on financial aid and part-time work to fund their education as tuition fees climb. For the 2018-2019 academic year, average undergrad post-secondary tuition in Canada rose to $6,838, up 3.3 per cent from the previous year. Loans may be the only way for some to afford higher education, but students need to be mindful of the pitfalls when borrowing and repaying them.

LOANS

"There is good debt and bad debt, but definitely getting a student loan to improve your education and employability is good debt," says Laurie Campbell, chief executive officer of Credit Canada, a credit-counselling agency.

"But one of the things that we see with students is that they don't judiciously use that money over the year. They sometimes blow it in the first couple of months."

To avoid a cash crunch after paying for tuition and books, students should consider a part-time job and figure out a monthly budget to cover rent, food and sundry costs such as transportation, Ms. Campbell advises. "What we see often is many young people coming out of school with large credit-card debt."

Students often don't worry about racking up loans because they figure they can pay it off once they get their "plum career position, but the reality is that they have to start at the bottom," she says. "Often, the income does not allow for a reasonable repayment for all this debt. They can find themselves in default, and not knowing how to manage it."

But applying for a government loan is worthwhile, even if a student qualifies for only a small one, because it opens the door to potential scholarships, bursaries and grants, says financial blogger Kyle Prevost, co-author of More Money for Beer and Textbooks, a financial guide for Canadian students.

In addition to federal and provincial loans, students may be eligible for free money.

Ottawa offers grants of up to $3,000 a year for full-time students from lower-income families. Ontario and New Brunswick provide free tuition for students meeting income criteria. And Newfoundland and Labrador give students grants if they study in-province or outside for certain programs.

LINE OF CREDIT

A student line of credit is also an option for funding, he says. "If parents co-sign with the student, that should drop the interest rate substantially." Interest on a credit line must be paid once money is withdrawn, while interest on a government loan need not be repaid until after graduation and will generate an income-tax credit, too, he adds.

Some provinces, such as Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, don't charge any interest on their loans.

REPAYMENT

Repayment rules on government loans also vary. Most graduates don't need to pay back the federal portion until they earn $25,000 a year. For Ontario loans, graduates can wait until they make $35,000 a year. And British Columbia will forgive loans to students who work in publicly funded health-care facilities in underserved communities or with children in certain occupations.

Graduates need to "make an achievable plan to pay a loan back as soon as they are working," says Steve Bridge, a financial planner with Money Coaches Canada. "It's making sure you have enough money for everything else in your life, such as a cellphone, car insurance, rent, groceries and clothing. Sometimes people attack their loan too aggressively and they end up running up their credit cards."

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By Zoe Beaty - 23 September 2015
Junior Commissioning Editor/ Senior Features Writer

‘Oh my goodness!’ says the photographer, as he crouches by my feet. I’m sat in probably one of the most compromising positions of my career so far: squeezing (with ungraceful difficulty) both bum cheeks on to a chair more or less the size of one of my size eight – OK, sometimes size nine – shoes. It’s a child’s chair and I, quite obviously, am a rather large adult. Or, as the photographer puts it between bellowing ‘Ha!’ every couple of seconds, ‘You’re enormous!’

He was, of course, joking. And I didn’t mind – besides, it’s not like I haven’t heard it before. I’m six feet tall with a 35-inch leg – which makes me far from small, despite being a size 12. I’m the girl who blocks your view at gigs, who hugs you awkwardly and walks with a subtly bowed head and a slightly self-conscious stoop.

Being a tall woman naturally attracts a lot of attention. As many other ‘outsized’ women will know, people (usually strangers) like to point out height as a ‘surprising’ fact that may have formerly gone unnoticed. To get you up to speed, if you’re of average height or smaller,imagine being told every day – or most days – that you have ears. ‘Oh, yes, I do,’ you’d reply, acting politely enlightened. Then,if you’re like me, you’ll turn around to obscure your face while violently rolling your eyes. Of course, despite annoyances (being asked, ‘How’s the weather up there?’ is rage-inducing), being tall has its perks– even the term ‘above average’ height connotes positivity and being ‘statuesque’ has long been viewed as an attribute of superiority. It’s the reason most women torture their toes in sky-high heels and why men on Tinder blatantly lie about their height. But, despite so many women coveting loftiness, its association with masculinity often means that, practically, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be.

It might sound like a humblebrag, but having legs too long to fit under a desk –or, on a more uncomfortable level, within the confines of a standard plane seat – is genuinely pretty irritating. In women’s toilets I can rarely look in the mirrorwithout doing an awkward knee bend– something I often whip out in group photos, lest my head gets completely cutoff. Hugging short people means my chest is in perfect alignment with their face and I’ve only ever found one bath that was long enough for me to lie down in. At school I was the ‘lanky’ one, sometimes called names for standing out a little too much and put in detention for my standard-size uniform skirtwhich, simply because I had more to show, revealed more leg than the other girls’ skirts did. And as a young teenager I was disliked by boys who I unwittingly emasculated. It’s hard to put your arm around someone almost a foot taller than you – they tended to prefer the ‘cuter’ girls who could sit daintily on their lap. Later, my height became a more prominent part of my identity – while my friends were defined as ‘the funny one’ or ‘the pretty one’, I was branded ‘the tall one’.

Slowly, as I went out more to pubs and clubs, my body became a kind of public property. Guys would think nothing of walking up to me and prodding my legs as if to prove they were real, and sweaty men pressed their clammy bodies against mine in a ‘height comparison’ game. If they ‘won’, their chests would swell with pride at their newly validated masculinity– if they lost, I’d be not only tall but ‘freakishly’ so, to soothe their bruised egos. Compliments always come off as slightly back-handed: ‘Don’t worry,’ I’m often told, ‘I like tall women!’ as though I should be grateful that someone is finally interested in me, despite my being a small giantess.

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Tall Girls auf DVD

Wer TALL GIRLS bei ARTE verpasst hat, kann sich immer noch hier im Store die Kinofassung auf DVD bestellen!

Und so funktioniert es: wenn Ihr in Deutschland, Österreich oder der Schweiz wohnt und eine deutsche Fassung kaufen möchtet, drückt Ihr einfach auf “store” und wählt aus, in welches Land der Film geschickt werden soll, bevor Ihr bezahlt. Ihr könnt über PayPal direkt bezahlen, auch wenn Ihr keine Kreditkarte habt, sondern nur eine EC-Karte. Wer nicht gern online einkauft oder keine EC-Karte hat, kann sich gern mit uns in Verbindung setzen. Ihr könnt uns das Geld dann direkt überweisen. Wer eine internationale Fassung bestellen möchte oder großen Freundinnen oder Verwandten im Ausland eine Freude machen möchte: bitte drückt auf den englischen Button und dann auf “store.” Dort habt Ihr die Auswahl zwischen zwei internationalen Fassungen. Wir bearbeiten jeden Eingang sofort und verschicken die Filme so schnell wie möglich! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Tall Girls

Eins davon bin ich. Ich bin Filmemacherin und 1,86m groß. Fünf Jahre habe ich gebraucht, um diesen Film wirklich zu machen. Warum? Weil ich – wie alle großen Frauen bisher nicht gern darüber geredet habe, wie es sich wirklich anfühlt, so groß zu sein. Mit diesem Film gehen wir an die Öffentlichkeit. Das Leben ab 1,85 ist anders. Egal, ob Du Model bist, Basketballerin oder ein völlig normales Leben führst. Hier oben gelten andere Regeln.

Website

Tall Girls DVD is available!

The Tall Girls DVD is available right here at our "store". This it how it works: there are two international versions available, one is PAL, the other NTSC, both with English subtitles. If you are not sure what you need, contact us, we'll look it up for you. Rule of thumb: you'll need NTSC in Canada, the US, Japan and much of South America and PAL in most of Europe and Australia. If you are from a SECAM country in Eastern European countries or from France please make sure that your DVD player will play a PAL DVD. Also, I would like to draw your attention to the less digitally inclined. If you have tall mothers or grandmothers or even great-grandmothers who grew up tall in the 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, please make them aware of this film or – even better – give it to them as a gift. During my screening tour with Tall Girls I met tall women well over 70 years old who had had a very annnoying and difficult time growing up. Some of their stories moved us to tears. They told us that for them TALL GIRLS was a belated recognition that they had not been alone in their experiences. It's so much easier for us to connect with each other now so let's applaud those who had to figure it out all by themselves and paved the way for us. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tall Girls

I'm one of them. I'm a filmmaker and 6'1" (1.86m) tall. It took me five years to make this film. Why? Because like most tall women, I don't like talking about what it really feels like to be so tall. But now we're going public. It doesn't matter if you're a model or basketball player or if you lead a very normal existence, life above 1.85m (6') is different. Other rules apply up here. "Tall Girls – A Story Of Giants" chronicles my journey into the heart of tall.

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Tall Girls - eins davon bin ich. Ich bin Filmemacherin und 1,86m groß. Fünf Jahre habe ich gebraucht, um diesen Film wirklich zu machen. Warum? Weil ich - wie alle großen Frauen bisher nicht gern darüber geredet habe, wie es sich wirklich anfühlt, so groß zu sein.

Mit diesem Film gehen wir an die Öffentlichkeit. Das Leben ab 1,85 ist anders. Egal, ob Du Model bist, Basketballerin oder ein völlig normales Leben führst. Hier oben gelten andere Regeln. Tiiu und Michelle sind Top-Models und zu groß für ihren Job. Arianne hat eine Mutter, die ihre Größe nicht mag. Sarah lässt sich operieren, um nicht 1,90m zu werden, Lea nimmt Hormone, die für Kinder nicht zugelassen sind. Lisa ist zwei Meter groß und könnte ein Basketball-Star werden, wenn sie sich sehr anstrengt. Aber sie möchte lieber ein richtiges Mädchen sein.

Das Internet ist voll von Mädchen, die an ihrem Wachstum verzweifeln und bereit sind, alles zu tun, damit es endlich aufhört. Jeder Kinderarzt hat heutzutage eine Größentabelle an der Wand hängen, an der man von klein auf erkennen kann, ob man normal ist oder nicht.

Aber was ist eigentlich normal? Jede Norm ist ein Durchschnittswert aus vielen Menschen. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass man dieser Norm exakt entspricht, ist sehr gering. Trotzdem wachsen wir in einer Gesellschaft auf, in der uns vielfach über unsere Familie und unser Umfeld sehr deutlich vermittelt wird, ob wir reinpassen oder nicht. Besonders als Mädchen. Groß, laut und selbstbewusst - besser nicht.

Dabei werden wir oft das, was andere in unseren Körpern sehen. Tiiu, Michelle, Arianne, Sarah, Lea und Lisa zeigen in diesem Film, wie sie leben, was sie fühlen und wie sie mit ihrer Größe umgehen. Und was ihre Größe aus ihnen gemacht hat.

Manchmal ist es zum Weinen, oft zum Lachen, vor allen Dingen aber verliebt man sich in diese Tall Girls, die ganz offen zeigen, wie schwer und gleichzeitig befreiend es sein kann, neben der Norm zu leben.

Tall student bullied over her height reveals how she beat haters after years of hunching to appear more ladylike

Tamara Alireza, 34, used to be terrified of wearing high heels, but now she embraces her lofty physique

By Anthony Harvison
16:44, 31 AUG 2018
UPDATED 16:46, 31 AUG 2018

As a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Tamara Alireza stood head and shoulders above her classmates. At 6ft 1ins, she towered over the teachers, too. But while most teenagers would love to add a few inches to their frame, Tamara found herself the target of school bullies who tormented her for being tall. Despite her sporty stature, she was made to feel small and picked on for being 'different'. Tamara spent her informative years struggling to fit in and doing everything possible to look shorter and more "lady-like". She avoided being photographed and even walked hunched-over to conceal her true height. High heels were a definite no-no. Now aged 34, Tamara stands proud at 6ft 2ins – or a leggy 6ft 7ins in her favourite heels.

Not only has she embraced her enviable physique but has used it to her advantage as an accomplished children's author and anti-bullying campaigner. She looks down her nose at bullies and uses her own experiences to help youngsters nationwide. "They say the worst thing about being different is that you become a moving target for bullies. Unfortunately for me, I was a moving target they literally couldn't miss," Tamara said. "But it wasn't just the bullies who were making my life difficult. Society, generally, made me feel unwelcome. The bullies were a reflection of the times. "Fast-forward a few years and I came to love my body and myself. I realised that everyone is different, and that diversity needs to be cherished, nurtured and celebrated – not ostracised." She added: "We are all different and we are all equal."

Last year, shocking figures published by the Anti-Bullying Alliance revealed that more than half of children aged between eight and 16 worried about being 'different'. Of these, 40 per cent admitted they would "hide" or "change aspects of themselves" to avoid being bullied. Worryingly, more than a third (36 per cent) of those questioned thought that teachers did not do enough to educate pupils about what to do if they became victims. Tamara is among those who experienced bullying first-hand. As a child, she was tall for her age. But a growth spurt in her early teens meant she would tower over her peers – and her family - into adulthood. It left her self-conscious and at the mercy of cruel classmates, whose jibes compounded her lack of confidence. "When my friends all started wearing high-heels and make-up, I wore the flattest-soled shoes I could find so that I would fit in," she said.

Her height also made everyday tasks challenging. She found buying clothes – and especially dresses – "almost impossible". She was also forced to wear men's shoes because women's sizes rarely accommodated her size 10.5 feet. And the prospect of being photographed with pals was "particularly unappealing". Instead, she would sit in the front or stoop over. Dating was, she says, "not at all easy". "I felt uncomfortable in my own skin, it's that simple," she added. But by her mid-20s, Tamara finally came to terms with her height. Today, Tamara has no problems with being one of the tallest students at Royal Imperial College, London, where she has been studying for a PhD in neuroscience specialising in Parkinson's disease. She has used her own experiences to help others – most notably her nephew who was relentlessly bullied at school.

Her latest book, Steiny's Rhapsody , tells the inspirational story of a grand piano in a music store who suffers at the hands of the other instruments.

Steiny, like Tamara, eventually learns to love himself.

Tamara added: "Society is changing and, in time, so will people's attitudes to bullying. In the meantime, we all need to love the skin we're in – and refuse to cower down to the bullies."

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By Katie Sewell,Dec. 7, 2016, Posted in Lifestyle

We all want the fairy tale love story. Unfortunately, being a tall woman can sometimes seem like a burden when chasing true love.I’m 6’3” – something I get informed of almost every day by people I barely know. It’s as if they think I’m not already aware of the fact that I am taller than the average UK man. To make me more of a genetic freak I also have bright blonde hair, an attribute which, when combined with my height, has earned me the nickname ‘Flaming Beacon’ when I go out clubbing with squad.

For a very long time, I hated my height. As a teenager, I mastered the art of the ‘forward leg bend’, a move that the tall folk reading this will also be well acquainted with. In every group photo where I look normal in height, rest assured, the forward leg bend is in operation and my thigh muscles are in agony.

The main concern of my youth, as I’m sure was the same for many other angsty teenage girls, was whether or not somebody could possibly love me. I was doomed to a life of cats and one bedroom flats, I was sure of it.

Boys were a good head and shoulders beneath me until around the end of secondary school; even at sixth form a boy being taller than me was a novelty. My poor mother had to deal with many a teary breakdown at my self-deemed unworthiness of love.

My dad, an enormous man of 6’10”, didn’t see what the problem was. He was convinced, as most dads are, that his daughter was the most beautiful thing in the world. “Fluffy, the men will be lining around the block for you,” he would say. I was constantly reassured, but without the affirmation of a boyfriend, the words of my loved ones fell on deaf ears.

When I arrived at university, like pretty much any other student, I entered into the Tinder-sphere. I was frequently told I would be perfect ‘if only I were shorter’, boys frequently using the excuse that they could never, ever date a girl that was taller than them. So, naturally, I did the ‘boy thing’ and lied about my height on my profile. 6’3” Katie from Essex became 6 foot. How cheeky.

But please, don’t feel too sorry for me. My sad tall girl self-esteem crisis does have a slightly ‘happy ending’. Last year, one lad I liked on Tinder and I went on a date. Turns out he’d lied about his height, like a lot of lads do.

However, and rather fortunately for me, he’d lied about quite how tall he was. So 6’5” Dave was actually nearer to 6’8”. Get in. And just a couple of weeks ago, we went to Sweden (to be among the other tall freaks of the world) for our first trip away as a couple. Aww.

So, for those of you reading who are long-limbed, male or female, here is my advice: don’t hide yourself away. You are a genetic marvel, with a guaranteed good view at any concert.

Don’t ever let someone make you feel small for being anything but. If anyone mocks you, then that’s their problem, and certainly isn’t something you should be concerning yourself with. One day the right person will come, and they will love every inch of you.

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Hello, girls (or young ladies respectively)!

On these pages you may have to read about dangerous people you might meet online. This website, as well as many others, is going to try and warn you about the dangers of being online. But I'd like to go one step further and that's why this website is going to be there for you and support you if required. I know we're not yet talking "height" but this topic is one I find extremely important. So, do me, your parents, friends and yourself a favour, Love... be careful and wary! We don't want you to become a "missing child", do we? :-)

For a database of very dangerous people go to www.familywatchdog.us - and don't forget to tell your parents about it. They might want to check it out too! There is  another website that you and / or your parents might want to take a look at: http://www.sexualoffenders.com

In the aftermath of the murder of ten year old Holly and Jessica who were abducted and killed in Soham, UK, the BBC Children's Website has come up with a few tips for staying safe. Click here to read these tips and remember - no matter where you are, it's good to remain safe! More advice from the BBC Website.

Some advice from Tall Ladies who are no longer Teens

Barbara Worton, the author of TOO TALL ALICE (Alice is eight years old, and "...four inches taller than any of the other girls in my class...") believes self-esteem is the greatest gift in life. "Self-esteem," Barbara says, "is the certainty right down to your DNA that you are just perfect as you are and have the right to be accepted, respected, and live a happy and successful life." And that message comes through loud and clear in TOO TALL ALICE.

Lorie Ann has teamed up with me in order to improve the "Tall Teens & Kids" Project. She was a Ballerina until her height (she's 6ft) caught up with her.  Lorie Ann has since become a successful writer and she's co-founded Readergirlz, an online book community celebrating gutsy girls in life & literature. Make sure to read the Readergirlz April 2007 Manifesta and check out Lorie Ann's myspace.com profile!

 "You like being tall???"

What does "tall" mean in the context of this website? Well, if you're grown up you'll be considered tall if you're 5'10" or over. If you're - say - 12 and 5'8" - you'll be considered tall. It's usually relative... if you feel you're too tall you've come to the right place. If you're still not fully grown and would like to know how tall you are going to get you can try http://www.kidsgrowth.com/hc/height.cfm - I don't know how reliable this is but it's an interesting approach.

This is interesting: The Tall Club International offer TCI Students Scholarships of up to $1000 each to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending  their first year of college in the following Fall. The recipients must also meet  the TCI height requirement minimums of 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men.

6ft 2in Sophie, 12, towers over pals and her parents as she sets new record

Sophie can touch ceilings at home and is 18 inches taller than most classmates

Exclusive By Lynsey Clarke and Jennifer Wiley
30th May 2018, 11:05 pm Updated: 30th May 2018, 11:05 pm

RECORD-breaking 12-year-old Sophie Hollins stands proud at 6ft 2in, as she towers over her pals and even her mum and dad.

The schoolgirl can touch ceilings at home, and is 18 inches taller than most classmates.

Sophie, who Guinness World Records believe is the world’s tallest pre-teen, said: “I’ve always known I was different. I’ve been tallest in my class from day one.”

But while she says it is “cool” to be so tall, she adds that she will be delighted if a recent procedure to stunt her growth is successful. 

Sophie - who looks down on 5ft 10in dad Ian, 5ft 4in mum Lorraine, both 44, and 4ft 7in brother Aaron, ten - was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at eight months.

The life-threatening genetic disorder affects the body’s connective tissues.

It can cause organ problems, or lead to extreme height.

Sophie was 4ft 10in at age six. Aged ten and 5ft 11in, doctors curbed her surge by destroying growth tissue in her knees and giving her hormones to speed up puberty. 

Sophie, from Southampton, said: “Mum told me about Marfan syndrome when I was little. It’s who I am. I’m proud of that.

“But I’m happy I might have finished growing. It’s cool to be 6ft 2in but I don’t want to be much taller.

“Now my friends are starting to catch up. The last few years have been tough with everything my body has been through. But I’m happy it’s over and am excited about becoming a teenager.”

Dental receptionist Lorraine added: “I always told Sophie people are going to stare. Boys at school called her a giraffe. There was a time she was so skinny I feared her legs would snap in half.”

Guinness says the world tallest man is Turkish farmer Sultan Kösen, 35, at 8ft 2.8in. The tallest woman is China’s 7ft 3in Sun Fang, 30.

DO you know a taller girl? Call our newsdesk on 020 7782 4104 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Student, 18, who stands 6ft 2in tall reveals she's stopped on the street by strangers in awe of her height - and refuses to slouch to fit in with shorter friends

A teenager proud of her 6ft 2in frame revealed she is stopped in the street by strangers in awe of her height. Tara Humphris, 18, from Oxford, said she has always been taller than all of her friends but refuses to slouch just to fit in. Instead she has always embraced her height and even adds extra inches by wearing heels. And her striking height never goes unnoticed. 'In terms of reactions, I always get lots of glances, often stares and compliments about my height and the way I flaunt it,' Tara said. 'Random strangers even stop me in the streets to ask my height and tell me I look elegant and graceful, which as anyone can imagine is such a confidence boost.' 

Tara credits her height for enabling her to excel in sports, such as basketball, netball and badminton, which she now competes in at university in Bath.

When she's out Tara receives lots of stares, double takes and compliments about her height, with people stopping to tell her she exudes elegance and grace, something she says gives her a massive confidence boost.

Tara is the tallest female in her family and her brother, Josh, is already 6ft 5in at 16.

However, Tara credits her mother, Elaine, who is 5ft 11in for making her feel positive and confident about her height, after her parent struggled with her own height when she was at school and didn't truly embrace it until later in life, when she saw Tara growing taller.

Incredible pictures show Tara standing proudly amongst her friends and wearing heeled boots to make herself even taller.

Tara said: 'Growing up I've always been taller than all my friends and was the tallest girl in my entire secondary school when I was only 15 and I loved it.'

'I was known for being the tall blonde girl and always stood out in a crowd. My height also came in handy for sports as I was very active, playing basketball, netball and badminton at competitive levels throughout school, which I also now continue at uni.

'I cannot thank my mum enough as I can confidently say that she is the reason I feel so positive about my height, as she brought me up telling me to stand proud with my shoulders back and head held high and told me that if anyone was ever mean about my height it was only because they are jealous.

'Therefore, I can honestly say that there has never been a moment in my life where I wished I was shorter, as my mind set is that you can't change your height so you've just got to embrace it.

'In my opinion, there's nothing worse than a tall girl standing slouched in a failed attempt to look the same height as her friends, you've just got to love your height and stand confidently as confidence radiates off a person, especially if that person is tall and proud of it.

'Therefore, I've also always loved wearing heels as I'm already tall so I figure I might as well be taller.

'My mum on the other hand grew up the opposite, as she hated being tall, standing at 5ft 11in herself she was always the tallest through school as well but lacked the confidence and support I had growing up, it was only later on in her life that she began to enjoy her height, in particular when me and all my cousins started growing taller than her she began to embrace it fully.

'I have a big family and have a whole squad of 6ft to 6ft 5in cousins and even my younger brother at the age of 16 is already 6ft 5in. This is another reason I love my height as I've constantly grown up with people taller than me and it's great, however I can proudly boast that I am the tallest girl in my entire family.'

The only time when the comments she receives frustrate her slightly is on a night out when people state the obvious that Tara is a tall woman, something she tries to laugh off.

She shared her words of advice to others to encourage them to embrace what makes them unique. 

She continued: 'However I must say the only times I find it funny but frustrating, is if I'm on a night out and drunk people say to me, "oh wow, you're tall", because I just say back to them, "ok, thanks for letting me know, not like I didn't know that or anything", and then they usually feel bad or humiliated for stating the obvious and I just laugh, because I don't mind it really.

'The main message I wish to convey is just to love yourself, everyone was made unique so you've just got to work with that, embrace yourself and live everyday as it comes.'

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The girl who is too tall to walk: Teenager who stands at SEVEN FOOT relies on a wheelchair as her bones can't support her body 

• Rumeysa Gelgi, 19, from Turkey is world's tallest female teenager
• Has Weaver Syndrome, which causes accelerated bone growth 
• Says her parents help her cope as they always made her feel special
• Features in new TLC series of Body Bizarre

By Siofra Brennan For Mailonline
Published: 10:25 GMT, 28 September 2016 | Updated: 12:40 GMT, 28 September 2016

Towering at a staggering seven foot tall, Rumeysa Gelgi is the world's tallest teenage girl. Hailing from Safranbolu, a small town in the north of Turkey, the 19-year-old always stood out from her friends growing up. Rumeysa said: 'I received long stares from people because I looked different and they were naturally curious about me.

The teenager suffers from a rare condition called Weaver Syndrome - at the time of her birth in 1997 there had only been 20 reported cases. People with the condition experience rapid growth from birth, as well as other health issues such as a lack of knee and elbow extension, making activities like walking or running very difficult.

She added: 'I became aware of my health condition when I was about five or six years old. I started to wonder why I looked different from other kids of my age.' As well as Weaver Syndrome, Rumeysa also suffers from scoliosis, a condition which has given her a curvature of the spine.

Due to her rapid growth, Rumeysa has issues getting around as her bones struggle to support her body and she relies on her parents' help. Her mother, Safiye Gelgi, gave birth to her six weeks prematurely as doctors noticed she was above average size even as a baby due to her condition. Safiye said: 'Rumeysa was a big baby at the very early stages of my pregnancy.

'My doctor told me that she was not a normal baby. Because of that she was born early at seven and a half months.'

Growing up Rumeysa's condition became more apparent as she rapidly grew and had more distinct features. 'She was taller than normal. She had deep, raspy voice. Her hands and feet were big. She looked very unusual not like other babies.' Safiye added.

Despite her rare condition the tall teen remains upbeat, thanks in part to her loving parents. She said: 'As a child I questioned myself but I never felt unhappy. I overcome this with my parents' help. 'They told me that this syndrome is was rare. Because of them I felt the most important person in the world.' Rumeysa was certified the tallest female teenager in the world by Guinness World Records in 2014. Rumeysa said: 'It's one of my biggest dreams to be awarded with this record. 'Being a record-holder is a very amazing thing. I know that only the special people can make it and I know I'm one of them now.'

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Jul 7, 2016 6:30 PM
Alice Casely-Hayford

"Go high or go home" has been my shoe mantra since I finally accepted my height — all six feet of it — about eight years ago. Throughout my teen years, I was crippled with insecurity about my BFG-esque stature: I towered above the boys I fancied, was over half-a-foot taller than all of my friends, and my gym teachers always assumed I would be the best in my class (I hate sports and breaking a sweat, have minimal to no athletic abilities, and subsequently disappointed a lot of people).

Shopping, too, was a constant struggle. Fits were never quite right: jeans were ankle-swinging, and sleeves showed too much wrist for my liking. On nights out, I was always the one in flats while my friends showed off their new heels. And with my broad shoulders, too, sometimes the cut of a top was so tight, I'd be hunched over like Quasimodo. It was not a good look.

But hold the violins: This story ends quite happily. Thankfully, by the time I went to college, the boys grew, I discovered some of the advantages of being tall (no ID for me!), and I finally found the right pieces to not just cover, but flatter, my long limbs. For those who feel the same, here's what I've learned: Don't feel like a kitten heel is your only option. Don't feel limited by your wardrobe, feel liberated. And ignore anyone who remarks on your height.

I've also figured out how to wear just about anything thrown my way. Ahead, are six fail-safe outfit options and items that will help all the (tall) ladies in the place embrace their inches.

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The Tall Society - by Bree

I have made several attempts in writing this piece and I came to the conclusion that being 100% open and honest with you all will be the way forward. I am sincerely looking forward to connect with my tall sisters worldwide and sharing a piece of who I am will be the first step in getting to know each other better.

My full name is Brunnhilde Wijnaar, but you can call me Bree. I was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Yep so I am Dutch and was born in 'The land of the Tall', or so they say... Well I still towered over all of my friends, but we'll get to that.

I grew up in Rotterdam. In my opinion a great place to learn about the world, its different cultures and diversity. I attended both elementary and high school in Rotterdam. I have to say I have always been a social kid; I was fortunate to have a bunch of friends. At the same time I also was very good in hiding how uncomfortable my rapid growth spurt truly made me. Humor and overconfidence was often what I defaulted to.

So back to the height; today I proudly and confidently stand 6'4 tall.

Was I always as comfortable in my own skin as I am today? Absolutely not.

I was a little taller than average until about age 10 as my mom tells me. Then nature took off and left my family and me in a state of shock. The pace at which I was growing was off the charts, I would grow out of clothes literally weeks after I had gotten them and there was a general feeling of 'What on earth is happening'?

At the time I was a fascinating phenomenon for doctors and several tests later they made the estimation that I would grow to be about 6 feet. Their calculations turned out to be inaccurate as I grew well past the 6 feet mark. By age 14 I was a 6'4 teenager with body of a grown woman.

There is more to my story and I am looking forward to sharing it with you.

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Elisany suffers from gigantism from a tumour on her pituitary gland. Couple have been together three years and have lived together for a year. Elisany still draws stares but Francinaldo says he is proud to show her off. The pair want a long engagement but are already planning the wedding. Although only 18, she hopes to conceive soon due to fears over her fertility

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On August 18 TLC aired the final episode of “My Giant Life,” a reality show that followed four exceptionally tall women over a period of a several months. Episode 5 was a conversation between the 6’6” or taller women who agreed to be vulnerable enough to share their feelings, very personal moments, and the trials and tribulations of a life heads about most. Besides updating the audience about their lives, Lindsey, Haleigh, Coco, and Nancy discussed how the taping of the show impacted them and answered questions from the moderator.

As interesting as the show was, so were the many comments on its Facebook page and how they have changed over the past five weeks. The show has brought out haters, rubbed salt into open wounds among tall women and bridged a gap among people of all heights. It also created a heated conversation among the tall community on the Tall Clubs International Facebook page.

The first controversy focused on using the word “Giant” in the title of the program. Tall people hate being considered giants or giraffes. Even the ladies on the show weren’t keen on the title. As Coco said to her friend while taking a yoga class, “I’m not big, I’m tall.”

The next problem was the angle of the camera when the women spoke directly to the camera. As they talked about their specific lives, it appeared that they were sitting on small chairs and the camera was on the floor, angled upward. Viewers were quick to voice complaints about how the shots made the ladies look like giants among the Lilliputians.

As the weeks passed the storylines uncovered the raw emotion that ran just below the surface for each of the women. Buying long enough pants, “trying on” furniture to find sofas high enough and deep enough to be comfortable, and knee-bruising airplane seating were just a few of the trials that viewers experienced along with the ladies. Both Nancy and Haleigh let us tag along as they tried to find a prom dress and a wedding dress that covered their ankles and high heeled shoes without expensive alterations. Coco went on a blind date only to have the man turn and run after seeing how tall she was.

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Rumeysa Gelgi stands at 7 feet and 0.09 inches tall. The 17-year-old likely has Weaver Syndrome, according to Guinness World Records, but that doesn't stop her from enjoying her unique height: 'I like being different from everyone else.'

A Turkish teenager has dreamed of breaking a record and she has. She's one of the tallest people in the world. Rumeysa Gelgi, 17, a native of Safranbolu, a town roughly 120 miles north of Ankara, holds the title for the tallest female teenager, according to a Guinness World Records news release. Doctors believe Gelgi has Weaver Syndrome, which explains her tall stature.

The high school student towers over her siblings and even parents. She stands at 7 feet tall and 0.09 of an inch and just to be sure, a doctor measured Gelgi three times in one day.

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Vegas comedian puts down roots in Enumclaw with new children's book

Krista Kay's new book, "A Head Above The Rest," is partially based on her journey in accepting her height.

By Ray Miller-Still Wednesday, June 24, 2020 10:10am

Comedian Krista Kay opted to not wear heels to her senior prom - she didn't want to tower over her date, she said.

Her height, a whole six-foot-five, has always been the first thing people notice about her.

"I was taller than literally every other kid in my class growing up," the new Enumclaw resident said in a phone interview. "It was pretty difficult."

Growing up in a small South Dakota town didn't help, either; "No one was tall," Kay continued. "I thought I was the only tall girl, ever."

But as she matured, Kay turned her insecurity about her height into a strength - and with her new children's book, "A Head Above The Rest," she hopes she can help other kids learn that lesson, too.

Published October 2019 and illustrated by Scotty Roberts, "A Head Above The Rest" is all about teaching kids to recognize that their differences make them unique, and that those differences should be celebrated, not denigrated.

"I have worked on myself to accept being different, because, of course, we can't change our height. It's one of those situations where you always have control over your perspective," Kay said. "I wanted to write the book to teach that lesson to kids at a younger age. If anyone is different in any type of way… if there's any insecurities around something that you don't have control over, I just wanted to empower kids to take control of their perspective."

One way Kay first changed her perspective was to put her height to use by playing basketball at Northern State University in South Dakota, where her skills and physical advantage helped her get placed on the top 10 list for most blocked shots in the country.

After enrolling in a master's program for counseling, Kay went pro, playing with Australia's Ringwood Hawks for one season in 2012 before getting her degree two years later.

For three years, she worked as a therapist, but decided in 2017 she wanted to branch out into comedy, thinking her education and experiences would lend themselves readily to such a career.

It was during this shift that her height gave her another unique opportunity - to star on TLC's documentary show, "My Giant Life," which features women who are at least six-foot-six (meaning for the first time in her life, Kay wasn't the tallest person around).

The show followed Kay as she moved from South Dakota to Las Vegas to start her comedy career. As a part of the show, she lived with her co-star Lindsay Howard, who towered over Kay at a whopping six-foot-nine.

It was around this time that Kay started writing "A Head Above The Rest," but it wouldn't be for another two years before the project came all together.

Although already having a TV credit lent her weight in the Vegas entertainment scene, it wasn't long before Kay decided she wanted to switch it up, and when COVID-19 shut the whole strip down, it was time for her to move to small-town Enumclaw and continue her career here (Kay's boyfriend already living here didn't hurt, either). She's been living here for about four months now.

"Vegas is really uncertain with the whole entertainment business anyway, and the things that I do can be done anywhere, anyway," she said. "It's just appealing to be back at a slower pace… Enumclaw is beautiful."

But just because she's no longer performing in Vegas, doesn't mean she's left all her entertainment skills behind.

In order to being a little joy to some kids stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kay has been hand-delivering books to her readers - in a giraffe costume.

"It's pretty cool to see the kids' face" when I deliver the book in costume, Kay said. "I'm just trying to create something where people can still celebrate and have a surprise or something like that, even though they're stuck in their houses."

Once Kay is through finalizing her move to the Plateau, she hopes to get in touch with local venues for shows.

To learn more about Kay, or to book her for an event, head to http://kristakaycomedy.com/.

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Waitress bullied at school for being 6ft 7in snapped up by London modelling agency

Stephen Moyes
9 Jun 2020, 23:39 | Updated: 9 Jun 2020, 23:39

A WOMAN bullied for being 6ft 7ins tall is riding high after being scouted as a model.

Naomi Lovell, 22, gets unwanted sexual attention due to her striking stature, but is now celebrating towering over her peers.

At 6ft 2in aged just 13, she has grown up being jeered - with strangers even tapping her legs to 'check if she is on stilts'.

Her beanpole stature meant her love life hit the buffers, and Naomi has never had a boyfriend.

But the red-head cafe-worker, of Doncaster, Yorks., is now head and shoulders the happiest woman around after landing modelling gigs.

Naomi told how she has finally had the last laugh: "I was bullied in school for my height. Even teachers would comment on it.

"I was always picked for netball - even though I was rubbish at it - just because I'm tall.

"I do remember feeling like I was being used for my height.

"It affected my self-esteem and in some ways robbed me of my childhood as everyone always assumed I was much older and would treat me like an adult or expect me to be really mature.

"I've even had perverted men messaging me on Instagram, it makes me sick to my stomach. They have fetishes about tall women and always ask if I'm married.

"But I feel like I've really gained confidence since joining the modelling agency, they specialise in taller or unique looking girls.

"They asked me onto their books almost as soon as they met me, it was a real compliment, I finally felt beautiful."

Naomi's family look up to her, with mum, Karen, 58, a retired midwife, 5ft 7in, dad, Nigel, 51, a railway engineer, 6ft 2in, and sisters Bethan, 25, a student, and Amanda, 28, a warehouse worker, both 5ft 9in.

Naomi has been snapped up by London modelling agency Uglys, with photoshoot sessions boosting her confidence.

She said: "I had always been told that I should be a model with my long legs and height, but because I always felt like the odd one out I never really believed it.

"My mum organised a makeover session for me. And the photo agency in charge took one look at me and offered me a place on their books right away.

"It was such a good feeling. Although I was so nervous doing a photoshoot it was one of the first times I remember feeling really beautiful."

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Sabrina Rojas Weiss - Yahoo Lifestyle, 30 January 2018

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have been together for almost a year and a half and the couple have been engaged for about three months, which seems like enough time for Turner to get used to feeling like she’s in a “fishbowl,” as she once told Glamour. It is not enough time for some onlookers to get over a simple fact about this couple: At a reported 5’9,” the Game of Thrones star is taller than her 5’7″ DNCE fiancé.

The paparazzi caught the two walking out in unseasonably warm weather in New York City over the weekend, with Turner wearing a pair of boots with tall chunky heels as Jonas strolled along in his Converse. Gossip site Just Jared posted a photo of them to Instagram, and immediately the comments section became host to a load of criticisms over their height difference.

“She is sooooo much taller than him,” noticed @aurmichkell.

“And why does she wear such high heels?” wondered @csre27. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being taller than your partner, but it just seems uncomfortable to accentuate it like that.”

“So … Joe is the little spoon,” wrote @amandachristy12. And @geronimogl was meaner, joking, “Caption should say, Sophie’s fiancee and her little bitch!”

When they first started dating, a couple of tabloids made a big deal about their height difference, but they’re hardly the first celebs to demonstrate that sometimes taller women like men who are ever-so-slightly shorter than them. See also: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban (or Tom Cruise), Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik. Jonas has dated other statuesque women, such as Taylor Swift and Hadid. Why do people get so fixated on this kind of pairing? Does it have any bearing on the internal workings of their relationship?

A lot of that depends on the couple’s past, New York-based relationship therapist Jean Fitzpatrick tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

“Because we think of man-as-taller as ‘normal,’ sometimes this height difference sparks anxiety, usually at first,” Fitzpatrick says. “A very tall woman may have felt like a giant growing up and dating, and may sometimes wish for a guy who feels like her match in height. A shorter man may have been the smallest guy on the team and so dating a taller woman may be an uncomfortable reminder of shame he hasn’t worked through yet. The biggest height difference any of us experiences in life is the one we have with our parents growing up. When we were small and they were tall, we felt taken care of and loved, or deprived and judged, or both.”

But none of that baggage is insurmountable, Fitzpatrick notes, particularly if both parties are willing to talk about it.

There’s one way in which Turner and Jonas are already getting past one shorter-man stereotype: “Tallness in men is associated with career success, which isn’t an issue for couples who are already successful,” Fitzpatrick says. “And with today’s partnership marriages, I find couples less interested in height and more in sharing career, household, and parenting equitably.”

Fitzpatrick says there are much more important questions they’ll have to face together than physical differences.

“Once a couple have been together awhile, it’s the quality of the relationship that matters: Do they listen to and understand each other? Do they express care for each other in everyday ways? Do they trust each other?” she says.

Regardless of height, “Jophie” look pretty happy together, as they begin to plan their wedding, which will feature Maisie Williams as a bridesmaid and some kind of speech (or more) from Nick Jonas. Then we’re betting Turner’s choice of footwear will have everything to do with her dancing plans, not her groom’s height.

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By Sara G. Miller, Staff Writer | November 16, 2016 01:51pm ET

NEW ORLEANS — Taller women are more likely to have physical or mental health problems by the time they reach their mid-70s than their shorter counterparts, a new study finds. However, rather than resigning to such a fate, women can take certain steps to ward off the negative effects of a tall stature.

Several factors, including genetics and certain circumstances that take place early in life, influence how tall a person will be, the researchers wrote.

Previous research showed taller people have a reduced risk of heart disease, but a greater risk of cancer, said Wenjie Ma, a doctoral student in epidemiology at Harvard University's School of Public Health and the lead author of the study. Ma presented her findings here Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions.

But researchers didn't know how women's height would affect their overall health as they aged, Ma told Live Science.

In the study, the researchers analyzed data on more than 68,000 women who were enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study. The women's heights, along with information about their BMI, smoking status, physical activity levels and diets, were recorded in 1980, when their average age was 44. [5 Key Nutrients Women Need As They Age]

The study follow-up continued until 2012, when the researchers determined which women met the criteria for "healthy aging." A "healthy ager" was defined as a woman who had no reported memory problems, no physical problems, no mental health limitations and was free of 11 chronic diseases, such as cancer, Type 2 diabetes and kidney failure.

The women were placed into five groups based on their height, Ma said. The median heights of the groups were 62 inches (157.5 cm), 63 inches (160 cm), 64 inches (162.6 cm), 66 inches (167.6) and 68 inches (172.2 cm).

Compared with the group that had a median height of 62 inches, the women in the 68-inch group were less likely to meet the criteria for healthy aging, Ma said. The findings did not change when the researchers adjusted for factors such as ethnicity, marriage status, menopause status and family history of disease.

It's not clear why taller women may be less likely to experience healthy aging — future studies should look at this question, the researchers said.

But when the researchers studied the women's lifestyle factors, including diet, they found that tall women who reported eating a healthy diet fared better than those who didn't. In other words, eating a healthy diet appeared to soften the association between taller height and unhealthy aging.

The healthy diet that appeared to have a positive effect was rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, Ma said.  

The researchers noted that the study found an association, and does not prove there is a cause-and-effect relationship between being taller and experiencing more health problems during aging.

More research is needed to see if the findings apply to other groups of people, the researchers said. The findings have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.  

Originally published on Live Science.

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