Before you buy, make sure the car fits your size

By Jeff S. Bartlett, March 06, 2017

To find out which vehicles are better or worse for tall or short drivers, Consumer Reports took a closer look at test scores of recently tested vehicles, for seat comfort, driving position, access, and the view out. The shortest tester is 5 feet 1 inch, and the tallest is 6 feet 2 inches.

A handful of cars are especially versatile and are rated very highly by both tall and short testers. Families with different-sized drivers might consider the Honda Accord or the Subaru Forester. Similarly, several models serve neither tall nor short drivers well, such as the Porsche 718 Boxster. Sports cars by their very nature cater poorly to both extremes: Tall people hit the roof, and short people can't reach the clutch.

Bear in mind that some models excel at driver space to the detriment of backseat passengers. All measurements can be compared on the model pages, available from the linked names below.

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Sunday, 7 June 2015 - 6:30am | Place: Mumbai | Agency: dna | From the print edition

Roshni Nair, Averil Nunes, Rama Sreekant

Too short or too tall, they don't fit society's definition of 'normal' and often find themselves on the margins of mainstream life. But they have taken on the challenge imposed by their height to forge their own identities. Roshni Nair, Averil Nunes and Rama Sreekant get an insight into the the struggles of those who give us valuable life lessons in how to make the most of adversity

Gender games

"One of my clients, a schoolgirl, lost all self-confidence as she had a tough time due to her height," says Chhabria. "She'd slouch and shun socialising because she perennially feared she'd be made fun of. As it is, every girl is body-conscious at a point. When kids make fun of you at this juncture, it can scar."

Goregaon resident Vijaya Pawar has been witness to this. She stands 5'10" tall and is hardly what one would insensitively call a 'giant'. But she grew up at a time when the average Indian height was less than what it is today. "In my village, people would say things like 'Tu bahut jaldi budhdhi ho jayegi', or 'You're so big now, why aren't you married yet?' This was when I was still in school," she says, and admits the pressure to fit in led to the drooping of the shoulders and consequently, a slight but lifelong hunch.

"I've seen mothers of girls who are 5'9"-5'10" encouraging them to stoop because they 'won't get boys who'll marry them'," shares orthopaedist Dr Neeraj Bijlani. Public infrastructure is also not adjusted for tall Indians, leave alone 'abnormally tall' ones, he adds. So having to constantly bend or sit uncomfortably in seats that are ergonomic only for the majority can predispose one to joint problems.

Then there's Scheuermann's Disease, a classic example of a socio-cultural phenomenon leading to a medical issue. Bijlani explains: "This condition is caused due to constant slouching, which affects the growth of the vertebrae and creates a hunchback. In my practice, the male-female prevalence is 1:10."

There's more. "If those affected are still growing, belts, braces and posture correction can be undertaken. The condition can't be reversed for adults. Their only option is corrective surgery," he says.

Citing numerous studies, The Atlantic's Joe Pinsker said in a May 2015 article titled 'The Financial Perks of Being Tall', "...an extra inch is worth almost $800 a year in elevated earnings." Meaning the taller you are, the more you'll earn – if you're in a 'Western' country.

Former I Am She Miss Universe India runner-up Reha Sukheja is yet to have a level playing field, leave alone get a fatter paycheck than peers. At 6'1", this 24-year-old is often rejected at auditions for commercials due to her height. "People say, 'Sorry, you're too tall'. If I'm auditioning for 10 ads, I'll go beyond step one in maybe two-three. Mostly since those will be 'solo girl' ads with no men," she says.

When she was in school, her PT teacher pushed her into the basketball queue even though she wanted to play volleyball. And having to cock her ear to hear what people around are saying is routine. "It's awkward posing for pictures. And yes, people look me up and down – first to see my height, then at my feet to check if I'm wearing heels and then back up again for confirmation," she laughs. But all this, she adds, isn't a bugbear like
the professional constraints she faces.

In an atmosphere where significantly tall women condition themselves to bending, slouching and feeling overtly conscious of their heights, Sukheja is an exception. It helps that her father and mother – former model Renu Sukheja, herself 5'10" – never made her feel small about her height. Reha always maintained a straight posture, basically flipping the bird to all those who encourage 'lambus' to do otherwise or say things like tall girls don't 'need' to wear heels. She also has no qualms dating shorter men – her current boyfriend is a few inches shorter. "If both of us are okay with it, I don't see why anyone else should care," she underlines.

This is the attitude parents, teachers and guardians should foster in the considerably tall instead of alienating them further, says Anjali Chhabria. Society will keep projecting its anxieties on anyone with a different body. The antidote is to be accept and be comfortable in your own skin.

How long, then, before those like Sukheja – and others of varying body types – get to play in a level field? One can only hope it won't be a wait for eternity.

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Hi!

I just wanted to let my friends and family know that my second book "Bigfoot Still Lives in Idaho" is now available for purchase! I am excited to finish this book! It is bigger than the first book and includes brand stories of Bigfoot sightings from all over Idaho.

The best place to get a copy is at www.bigfootlives.info or talk to me personally. While you are at that site you should also check out the very cool T shirts we have available.

Thank you for your love and support throughout the years, this has been an incredible adventure!

About Becky

I was born in Pocatello, Idaho and lived on the Fort Hall Indian reservation the first part of my life where there are many Bigfoot stories. I have been interested in the Bigfoot since I was about ten and started collecting these stories while I was in high school. The book, Bigfoot Lives in Idaho, was written with those stories from all over Idaho and was published November 2012. Since then I have been collecting stories and pictures for the next book which will be out later this year.

I am one of the 100 tallest women in the United States and in the top 200 tallest women in the world, but I still don't compare to the Bigfoot. I have big feet but theirs are definitly bigger.

I love to hear stories about Bigfoot - please share yours!

Visit Becky's website

This article is somewhat "old" but still makes for a good read:

She might have to duck her head when she walks through a door. But Britain's tallest teenage girl likes towering over her friends.

Jessica Pardoe, 18, who is 6ft 9in in bare feet, said: "I'm really proud to be this tall. I don't mind being a bit different. And it has so many advantages.

"I love going to music festivals and it's great to be able to see over everyone's heads."

Read the full article on the Daily Mirror website

SHE WAS bullied in her school years for towering above her classmates.

Now, Willerby woman Jessica McCubbin has had the last laugh, after shining in the Miss Beauty Curve finals in London. Jessica, 22, finished in the top ten at the pageant for plus-size women. She was also crowned Miss Publicity and Miss Top Model.

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Canada’s Kayla Alexander, who has stepped into the world of fashion, is trying to fill the gap

Being tall is one of the gifts of life for Keila Alexander.

It helped her educate, see the world, play the sport she loves to earn a living, and become an Olympic athlete.

Disadvantage?

Shopping for clothes.

The Canadian national team star is in a majestic 6’4 position, has set multiple career records at Syracuse University, and has eight WNBA seasons, but it’s a hassle to return to school and be empty. I still remember that.

“My mom looks like a low budget,” she recalls with a zoom call from Russia. So she is playing another season in the top leagues in the country. “And I was once very jealous [my sister], Keisha.

“She came back in cute clothes like cheap and fashionable jeans. I couldn’t really find the cute and fashionable clothes that suit me, so I came back with jewelry and a T-shirt. So I never enjoyed all the shopping in the new semester. “

Nicole Murphy is Alexander’s lifelong friend from Barry, Ontario. It was Murphy who saw a new tall girl in sixth grade class, invited her to the basketball team, and inadvertently started Alexander’s career.

Murphy grew to 6 feet and had her own challenges when it came to clothing and fashion.

“I was most dissatisfied with getting ready for the party or doing something with other girlfriends. They all wanted to go shopping and get their outfits. I’m Tag But I couldn’t find anything cute and flashy. I always wore basic clothes like jeans and T-shirts to suit me, “she says. “And I don’t know if I’ll be teased, but my friends will always say,’Oh, Nicole, you’re always very boring.’

“Or you could even share clothes or even shoes before you go out. I could never. I was a little calm while they were all preparing. Looking back, I was frustrated. “

The friendship between Alexander and Murphy and the annoyance of fashion shared with them prompted them to take action. The pair launched TallSize.com with Alexander’s sister Keisha, who topped the table at 5’10. This is a business in the retail industry for those who don’t, hoping to mitigate some of the challenges they and their peers face. Candidates likely to play the center of Canada’s Senior National Women’s Team at the Tokyo Olympics, as Alexander did this summer.

It happened in two stages. In March of this year, they launched a brand directory aimed at solving the shopping and fashion needs of tall women.

“We have found all the tall clothing brands possible around the world. Then we basically put in a filter. If you are in Canada and want to find jeans with an inseam 38 that ships to Canada You can basically filter it. Put all that information inside you and find a store where you can potentially shop to find those jeans you ship to you. You can, “says Alexander.

It was a quick and encouraging response. There seemed to be a need, and visitors to the site were pleased that their scavenger hunt was quickly simplified and more rewarding. Alexander didn’t have to go to test their ideas – she just asked her past and present teammates. The life of elite basketball played around the world has told her that her frustration is widely shared.

Murphy reached beyond Alexander’s basketball world and was even more convinced that they were working on something when she interviewed potential customers.

“that is, [frustrations] We all felt, but I’ve heard a lot that I wasn’t personally affected, “Murphy said. “But there is a lot of emotional weight tied to not being able to find clothes as a tall woman, especially when you are young.

“You are already taller than a boy, that is, it’s just not normal. In addition, you can’t find clothes that make your skin feel comfortable or confident, so the body associated with it. I think there are a lot of image problems … so it’s very reasonable and I’m thinking of it I was only able to point us in the right direction. “

As the brand directory gained momentum, they began to consider other opportunities and settled on an online marketplace that allowed buyers and sellers to meet online in one place.

“The next natural step for us was okay instead of kicking [users] Go shopping from all these different top brands [we identified], How do you create something that everyone can shop for in one place? Murphy, a veteran of multiple e-commerce ventures, quit his last job to commit to TallSize full-time this summer, says. “That’s where the market model partnered with various tall brands comes from. We put all our products in one place so that tall women don’t have to search the internet for hours. Fits.

“We wanted to create a space that women could trust. We could go there and know that it was a kind of scrutiny and become a really shopping item.”

The venture hopes to offer another way for 30-year-old Alexander after her playing career is over-a children’s book she publishes with Keisha, and in her art and public. In addition to talking.

But until then, nasty and frustrating trips to the mall no longer have to be that way, and with her sister and her oldest friend, they are actively doing so. I am happy to know that.

“I always liked the entrepreneurial spirit of trying to understand what I could do,” she says. “My big thing is to do what I’m passionate about. And this is what I’m passionate about. It’s about me and I’m creative. Because it enables me to continue learning [and] … I’m working now, so when it’s time to put on my shoes, I can smoothly move on to the next stage and my Tall Size… will grow. [we] You can continue for years to come. “

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Chase says her extreme height - she is 6'5 in flats - made her first pick in sports at school

And while she is busy building a career as a model, she has been turned down by some agencies for being too TALL. The 6’5" beauty’s pins measure a lengthy 51 inches – which is 0.9 inches off the world record.

The 22-year-old, from California, was nicknamed ‘legs’ and ‘giraffe’ in school, but says that her assets have helped her excel in sports. Now Chase has emerged to trump the current US record holder, Holly Burt - whose legs measure an impressive 49.5 inches. Chase said: “I am proud of my legs – I wouldn’t want anything different.

Follow Chase on Instagram

By JACKSON BIKO

In Summary

• A university student with a nice name called Vannet, who is 5’8’, emailed me lamenting how tall women have challenges that average women don’t.
• Tall girls get noticed even when they don’t want to get noticed. They draw too much attention to themselves.
• They intimidate men unknowingly, and it’s even worse when they realise you are smart on top of being beautiful and tall.
• She talks about how finding trousers that reach her ankles and sleeves that reach her wrist are a challenge.
• She also laments that being tall, men assume that she is independent.

There was a girl in my primary school that was taller than us by the time we were in Class Six.

I don’t remember her name, but I remember her knees; they looked like the nodes on an old, knotty tree. I saw her knees during physical education class – PE, as we called it.

She would gather her dress in her hands to play katiand her knees would be in full sight, and I’d stand there by the playing ground thinking, boy, that girl’s knees can make a hole through a wall.

She was conscious of her height, so she slouched, which made her look like a female undertaker. The other kids made fun of her height, so she was always defensive and aggressive, down for a fight with anyone, boy or girl, who crossed her path.

She was pretty though. She had big eyes. She was brown. She had breasts when breasts were not even in fashion. And she had a wonderful laugh. When she laughed you almost forgot that her knees were crude weapons. Almost.

We finished primary school and life scattered all of us like pollen in the wind. Then, in 2012, I ran into her at Sarit Centre. I saw her standing in the line to validate her parking ticket and I instantly knew it was her. It was her height.

SLOUCHED TO HIDE HEIGHT

She towered over everyone in that queue. Her face hadn’t changed one bit either; she was still brown – browner, even. She had those gorgeous big eyes. She was still pretty. And she had full breasts.

She still had that full infectious laugh; it’s amazing how time has nothing on someone’s laughter. Time doesn’t affect the well of laughter.

She was heavy with the weight that motherhood sometimes puts on women, but it was her alright, and I could tell that she never lost that slouch; her shoulders bent forward from the pre-pubescent days of trying to hide her height. She slouched in adulthood as she slouched in childhood.

I waited for her to finish paying, then I stopped her to say hello. She couldn’t remember me instantly. (I was fat in primary school. Fat and silent and dull.) I said, “Jackson Biko. Class eight red?” She looked at me closely and said, “Oooh, gosh, you have a beard now! A man!” (I pumped out my chest slightly, like an ape!)

I was embarrassed to ask her name, and she didn’t offer. She said she read my name in the newspaper and online and she always wondered if it’s the same Biko who she went to school with. I nodded and acted like it wasn’t a big deal the way my four-year-old son does when you tell him he’s looking smart.

We caught up. She has children now, married, professional woman and doing good from how expensive her handbag looked. I wanted to tell her jokingly that I remember her knees from those days, but maybe that would have offended her, so I didn’t.

Anyway, the whole point of this story is about tall women. A university student with a nice name called Vannet, who is 5’8’, emailed me lamenting how tall women have challenges that average women don’t. They get noticed even when they don’t want to get noticed.

CHIN UP GIRLS

They draw too much attention to themselves. They intimidate men unknowingly, and it’s even worse when they realise you are smart on top of being beautiful and tall. “Men take off,” she wrote. You suddenly become a mountain they don’t want to climb.

She talks about how finding trousers that reach her ankles and sleeves that reach her wrist are a challenge. She also laments that being tall, men assume that she is independent. “I rarely get guys to help me out, even to lift stuff up. They assume I don’t need help.”

I suppose that she also has to be sensitive about the kind of shoes she wears before meeting a man who is shorter than her. I told her, “Being a tall woman is a beautiful thing. Hold your head high. If a man runs away because of your height then maybe he’s not the kind of man you need.”

My nine-year old daughter will certainly be tall. Her mother isn’t short, and she has tall relatives from both sides of the family. At nine, my daughter is already as tall as they come. (Her knees look decent, though.)

I’d hate for her to make excuses for her height one day. To slouch. To conform. To feel the need to lower her height to be the same as the masses. Once in a while I tell her, ‘My, Tamms, you have such a beautiful height, I love it.” I hope it gets to her head and she always stands tall.

She will no doubt meet short boys in school who she might fancy, boys who might make her feel that her height is a liability, that it’s a yoke to be borne with stoicism. Unlucky for those boys, her confidence will have been reinforced by my wiring.

I will be praising her height so much that if a short, fat boy (like I was in primary school) makes fun of her height she will say, “Oh, please, you wish you could be as tall as me. I know you would love to brush your teeth without standing on a stool.”

Chin up, you young, tall girls. Chin up. Height can only be worn with grace.

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Frustrated by the lack of stylish options for tall women, pro basketball athlete and designer Diana Delva launched her own direct-to-consumer clothing label.

By Elizabeth Segran - 5 minute Read

When designer Diana Delva was in middle school, she was already more than six feet tall, towering over most of her classmates. On the upside, this meant that she was a shoo-in for the basketball team. But on the downside, it was hard finding cute clothes to wear. Many of the teen brands that other high school girls wore simply did not fit on her large frame.
 
Delva went on to play basketball at the University of Hartford, and later, professionally, as part of the European basketball league. That’s when it struck her that many of her fellow athletes had similar gripes: Fashion labels viewed tall women as an afterthought rather than a valued customer.

In college, while on a full athletic scholarship, Delva interned at DSquared2 to learn about the fashion industry. Then, last year she launched her own brand, Chèlbè, which focuses entirely on the needs of tall women. This means creating trousers with bigger inseams and blouses with longer arms, all in the season’s trends. She showed her fall 2017 collection at New York Fashion Week, where she was named a “designer to watch.” She now sells clothes directly to consumers through her website, where she is focused on ensuring that her garments are at an affordable price point of under $80.

As a black woman setting out into the fashion world, Delva doesn’t have very many role models that look like her. But she does take comfort in the fact that black communities have always been very scrappy when it comes to adapting fashion trends to suit their needs. She looks to someone like Dapper Dan, for instance, who realized back in the ’90s that the luxury European designers weren’t designing for the bodies and styles of black people. So, he went out and plastered the logos of Louis Vuitton and Gucci on expensive leather, turning them into bomber jackets and jumpsuits that were a hit with the hip-hop world.

It’s this sense of resourcefulness that inspires Delva not to accept her position as an underserved customer, but to do something about it, even if it means starting a clothing line of her own.

Fast Company: Tell me about your brand. 

Diana Delva: Chèlbè is a fashionably tall clothing line catering to women 5’9 and up. The name comes from a creole word that means elegant, chic, or luxurious in dress, style, or design. I’ve translated this concept into a versatile, comfortable, and fashion-forward collection.
 
Pieces are made to accentuate and accommodate lengthier features with longer inseam, torso, and arm lengths. Some of our best sellers include the three-way jumpsuit, which is a twist on a classic black jumpsuit with asymmetrical cuts and front zipper that you can adjust to wear three ways. Others include the Illusion Palazzo Pant, high-waist flowing pants that have the illusion of shifting shades as you walk, or the simple T-shirt dress that makes a statement “Fashionably Tall.”

FC: What made you decide to launch it?

DD: I reached 6’1 by the age of 14 and quickly realized the struggle of shopping tall. I found it even more impossible as I grew older and adopted my own sense of fashion and style. Most tall options available were very basic styles that often didn’t fit my budget.

And as a basketball player, I ran into lots of women who had the same issues. It was even harder for us to show our feminine side because we couldn’t find clothing to reflect that. We would often exchange styling tips and share where we could find clothes. While shopping in mainstream stores, we opted for the men’s section, plus-sized clothing, or the cropped look. We would also pull up our sleeves and wear ankle and high boots that gave the illusion of clothing that fit.

I decided to launch Chèlbè out of pure need. I was tired of endless shopping trips trying on everything that didn’t fit. I wanted on-trend styles that regular-height women could find without the added cost.

FC: Do you feel like black consumers are underserved in your product category? If so, then why and how?
 
DD: I like to think that black consumers are at the forefront of style and setting trends since you often see those same styles mimicked in mainstream fashion. One of the bigger examples is of Gucci replicating a design by Dapper Dan, which after backlash led to a collaboration. Or the variations of cornrows you see in today’s fashion. The selection of tall clothing is very limited and, in some sense, limiting to individual style and expression. But it goes to show the resourcefulness of the black consumer. Whatever the product or budget, black consumers find a way to make it a style of their own.

FC: Are black entrepreneurs underrepresented in your industry? Why do you think this is? 

DD: I think black entrepreneurs are underrepresented in most industries, not just in the fashion world. I think that has to do with the social disparities that black entrepreneurs have to overcome. We are not starting on the same playing field. Statistically black people are less privileged when it comes to basic needs like income and education. It’s a lot harder to break into the fashion world without the proper resources and connections that black entrepreneurs often lack.

FC: Have you faced any obstacles as a person of color trying to launch a business? What are they? How did you overcome them?

DD: I haven’t noticed any obvious obstacles as a person of color launching Chèlbè, not to say they don’t exist.

I have had to build relationships with all types of people, going into every situation color-blind, letting my work and work ethic speak for itself. As in any growing business, there will be lots to overcome and there is always a solution for everything.

In sourcing my fabric from Greece and Lebanon, I’ve gone into situations where there was a distinct cultural and language barrier, but when it came down to it we had two things in common–the fabric and the price. Regardless of color or even language, there is always a common ground in business. You just have to find a way to make it work for everyone involved.

FC: Have you deliberately tried to be a visible face of your brand? 

DD: I’ve actually tried the opposite. I want to build Chèlbè itself as a brand having the designs and meaning speak for themselves: chic, elegant, graceful, and luxurious. Chèlbè is a lifestyle and can be translated into everything you do. I just help dress the part.

FC: What is your advice to other black people who are passionate about fashion/apparel and want to make an impact in this industry?

DD: Stay true to your vision. A lot of times we look for outside approval and conform our vision to be more “acceptable.” I always pass my designs by my sister and friends, even from the early stages when it’s just a drawing and fabric. Sometimes they love it and sometimes they don’t. Most of the time, they can’t really judge until there’s a finished product. Constructive criticism is a great tool to aid you along your journey, but sometimes only you can fully see or understand your ideas, and that’s okay.

About the author

Elizabeth Segran, Ph.D., is a staff writer at Fast Company. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Clothing Sizing Changes Through Decades

Fashion Professor Discusses How Designers Calculate Sizes

Newswise — Any woman who has searched for a well-fitting pair of pants or the perfect little black dress should understand the impetus behind Lynn Boorady’s research.

The associate professor and chair of Buffalo State’s Fashion and Textile Technology Department has studied clothing sizing for more than 20 years, and she’s the first to admit it’s puzzling at best. When it comes to women’s clothing, there is no industry sizing standard, meaning it’s up to each designer to decide the ideal female shape. For many women, finding clothes that consistently fit can pose a challenge.
Historically, ready-made clothing was not meant to fit perfectly. Up until the 1960s, shoppers assumed they had to take their store-bought clothing to a tailor for adjustments, Boorady said. Of course, that is not the expectation today. This is why it’s so important to try everything on and not get caught up in the numbers, she said.

“If a piece of clothing fits, don’t worry about the size,” Boorady emphasized. “Tear the label out if the size bothers you. It’s a comment on the company, not you.” This situation has only improved slightly in recent years following a 2002 national study, Size USA, which conducted body scans on more than 10,000 women and men to adequately reflect modern body types. The last time women had been measured for a major study was in 1939.

To cover the wide range of body types, designers are offering more choices— slim fit, curvy fit, for instance. At the same time, there remains a disconnect. Fifty percent of the female population wears a size 14 or larger, yet the majority of designers make clothes for slender women, she noted.

That is slowly changing as more niche markets emerge with clothing designed for large-busted women, tall women, and plus sizes.

“There are still not great choices, but they are better,” said Boorady who wrote about sizing of apparel for overweight and obese consumers for a chapter in the 2014 book Designing Apparel for Consumers: The Impact of Body Shape and Size. (Serge Carrier, Marie-Eve Faust and Francis Dodds (Eds.). Woodhead Publishing: London)

At the same time, more designers are using vanity sizing — extra-small and triple zeroes — with the larger sizes adjusted accordingly.

“Manufacturers do the same thing to men that they do to women,” she said, “only it’s sizing larger, not smaller to make the consumer feel better.”

About Lynn Boorady Current chair of Buffalo State’s Fashion and Textile Technology Department, Lynn Boorady has taught at the college since 2010. She holds a master’s degree in Textiles and Apparel from Cornell University and a doctorate in textile and apparel management from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Other faculty positions she has held include: the University of Missouri, Iowa State University, Stephens College, Mount Mary College; and the American University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Her major areas of interest are body scanning, sizing, functional design, patternmaking, product development, technical design, apparel manufacturing, and the slow fashion movement.

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Confidence is Queen by Jen Sugermeyer

Jen Sugermeyer is a tall woman (6'1"), who struggled with confidence.

Jen wrote Confidence is Queen to show the way to solve any problem. Confidence is the key to face and tackle everything; your challenges, your fears, your hesitations, and it opens the door to the life you want!  If you’re starting a business, looking for love, ready to ask for that raise, looking for self-love, ready to find happiness, then confidence is your answer!

As cash is to king, confidence is to queen.  But you need to have cash to be king.  You already have confidence within you; we all do. With confidence, you can do, be, get everything you want in life, including cash.  The queen is the most powerful player in the game of chess, she can make all the moves. Learn how to start calling the shots in your life. Confidence is a mindset, and mindset is a choice.

Visit Jen's website

I didn’t have an easy start in life and in hindsight I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

It taught me so much about resilience, perception and ultimately, what I was capable of. From heading up Commercial Development in the entrepreneurial buzz of the Dragons’ Den to CEO of the beautifully creative studios of Anouska Hempel; I relentlessly worked my way up to being a trusted advisor to a high profile client list before I had my first ‘what the heck am I doing with my life?’ moment. In January this year, I was at a crossroads disguised as a dead-end; I mean who does the Advisor turn to for advice? Certainly not her client list!

I’d been so busy working that I’d forgotten the importance of having a solid support system and I already knew all too well that a lack of like-minded people in your life can have a disastrous domino effect so I put my high-profile career on hold and immediately went to work on my latest project: Building my tribe. My first stop was Escape the City where I joined 49 other inspirational individuals with a shared goal of building a startup. We spent 4 months creating, testing and launching our ideas into the public domain, turning to each other to celebrate the highs and picking each other up from the inevitable lows.

I’ve been 6’2 since I turned 14 years old and although I’ve always projected complete confidence in my working life, I was always dealing with social anxiety behind the scenes. I struggled to find clothes, towered over my group of friends and worked in male dominated environment so I didn’t even know any other tall women who really understood where I was coming from. There didn’t seem to be anything which ticked the right boxes for me so I set about creating an online community for tall women in the hope that they would show up… and they didn’t let me down! It’s been just over 6 months since I created a TALL GUIDES twitter account, today the combined TALL GUIDES social media following sits at just under 10k. A (terrible!) holding page has turned into a dynamic online magazine and the private Facebook group has evolved to include offline events in London, Germany & the Netherlands. I’m proud to have created a place where we can connect, create and celebrate our difference. This random journey has had a positive impact not only my life but also on the lives of many other women and from not knowing any other tall women; we now know thousands of them all around the world!

A niche community like this wouldn’t have been possible pre-internet and social media, I would have always been THE tall girl in my own circles and I feel extremely grateful that we’re now living in a super connected world. It’s something we all need in our lives, whether we’re referring to brands, businesses, startups or individuals, communities which make our lives better should exist everywhere – both on and offline. The biggest brands don’t sell to their customers, they don’t broadcast at people, they grow a tribe – engaging people in something interesting, entertaining or useful for them.

We’ve seen a rise in socially connected products, the emergence of platform-based companies and the message we’re sending is clear – connectivity is what we want, community is what we need. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you’re working, whenever you’re thinking of doing something different; take a moment to look at the support system around you as I believe that the people around us can be the difference between success and failure. If you don’t like what you see or you can’t find what you need, my advice is to create it and they will come.

The best opportunities come via people so proactively seeking out communities and people with similar interests and values to you is a must. The most successful (and enjoyable) way of building authentic relationships is to contribute generously to others. When you do this, you’ll often receive exciting opportunities in return. So what community is it that you’re looking to attract? Whatever you decide, stand for something and then build your tribe around it.

About the author

I’m Sallee Poinsette-Nash, a 6’2 Londoner, Brand Builder and Founder, TALL GUIDES – an inspiring online magazine supported by a global community of tall women. I spent the first half of my career in the fast-paced world of publishing before becoming a brand advisor and business troubleshooter to a high-profile client list. I’ve held Interim CEO and COO positions, consulted on Commercial and Operational Management projects as well as delivering Brand Strategy and Advisory Board roles. It’s the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had along the way that have inspired me to take what I do in the fields of business and brand and turn it into a Launchpad for ambitious women. WE LAUNCH HER is coming soon – a springboard with a support system, designed to create brighter futures by launching women into more meaningful careers and businesses.

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After running tallwomen.org by myself for all these years I'm glad we have finally upgraded to a more than just potent Content Management System. I didn't mind providing most of the content myself but once in a while I wished I could hand some of the "responsibility" over to one or more of my tall lady friends.

Now the time has come to share the responsibilities. The first two contributors are two good friends of mine. 6'4" Amanda from Texas and 6'6" Cala from New England.

If you would like to join Amanda you need to register first. And, you need to get in touch with me, of course. Use the contact form in the "Home" menu or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dating Advice: Seven things to NEVER say to a tall woman

by all4women · November 9th, 2015

For the mental well-being of all the tall women out there, please avoid saying the following seven statements …

I am a tall woman – 183cm tall to be precise. To a limit, tallness in women is considered a desirable trait, but when you are six foot tall, people begin to act like you’re a freak of nature.

This is clearly not desirable. I often look at petite, small women with envy: they are considered cute and feminine, whereas I am considered Amazonian.

As a tall woman, I can also never just melt into the crowd

I am always noticed, always looked at, always in sight. So sometimes, it can be tiring when strangers feel the need to comment on my physical appearance, when I just want to be left alone.

So, for the mental well-being of all the tall women out there, please avoid saying the following seven statements:

Wow! You’re so tall!

Really? Me? Tall? Never! I thought I was short! Come on people, surely you must know that I know I am unusually tall for a woman? How would you feel if I commented on your large beer boep, or your balding head? Perhaps I could comment on the fact that you have brown hair? Or blue eyes? I don’t need to point it out, because (and here’s the crux) you know. Plus, maybe you are a bit self-conscious of your bulbous nose. Maybe pointing it out will embarrass you? I know that being tall is not a negative thing, but it is so tiring to hear it every day. And eventually, I do start feeling like I am a bit of a freak (as if I am the only tall woman to ever have existed).

You must have really big feet? What’s your shoe size?

Again, seriously? Asking about my shoe size is none of your business and again, it hurts my feelings. You’re acting as if I am a circus act, and my feet aren’t that big (only a size 8). My advice is to use the following test: what would you say to a woman with really large breasts? You definitely wouldn’t stare at them and marvel at the size. “My, what big boobies you have!” And you certainly wouldn’t ask her what bra size she wears. It’s just rude and weird.

What’s the weather like up there?

Ha-freaking-ha. The only thing us tall women can do with this is smile weakly and edge away. Jokes about the physical appearance of other people are usually hurtful to the target of the joke. Apply the boob test: would you make a joke about a woman’s breasts being so large they enter a room before she does? I’m thinking you wouldn’t.

Men must be so intimidated by your height!

Well, I am married to a taller man and I have dated shorter men, which was never a problem. Asking me this question implies that you think men don’t find me attractive. In a society where looks count for a lot, that can be hurtful.

Did you play netball at school?

I didn’t, actually. I was terrible at sports. Just because I am tall, doesn’t mean I am sporty. Are you going to ask a black person if he is a good runner because of his skin colour? Unlikely – you’d be considered a racist if you did. So why is it okay to assume things about me because of my physical appearance?

Could you get that down for me?

I honestly don’t mind helping people get things down from shelves, but only when I offer. I do not appreciate people asking me to get beans down from the top shelf while I am having a conversation with my husband about what to cook for dinner. Just because I am tall doesn’t mean I want to help you.

You must be at least six foot three!

This usually comes from men who aren’t six foot, but wish they were. I used to model. I was measured professionally. Trust me when I say I am six foot tall. This means you are definitely less than six foot. Please don’t try to bolter your own self-worth by making it seem I am taller than I already am. Thank you.

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Denise Snodell: Jingle Bell curveball: bargains, bling, Bing

By Denise Snodell,Special to The Star

“You can always get a similar coat from the men’s section.”

These words were said to me by a cheerful retail manager. I was shopping for myself.

An upfront disclaimer is appropriate, since it’s the holiday season and all: This was a first-world situation. As first-world-y as it gets. None of this really matters.

But here’s what happened. I was on a Christmas gift-buying mission. The goal was to pick up specific treasures for the dearies on my list. Yet I became distracted when I saw something for myself.

Not my fault. Marketing gurus design stores to make us stop in our tracks for selfish purchases. We’re lured to their establishments with “door busters” and sparkly holiday décor and piped-in atmosphere. What I call bargains, bling and Bing. These profit maximizers strategically display items front and center to make the primary gift purchaser spend on herself as well.

That’s right: herself. I’m not being sexist here. I’ve worked in television. These coveted shoppers happen to be women from ages 25 to none-of-your business. It’s the mother of all demographics. I fall into that group. I’m a victim.

So, I popped into a chain store that outfits both sexes. I had my list and good intentions. Within seconds, though, my eyes landed on an abundant display of lightweight “packable” down jackets in a most alluring palette of colors. I had never seen such a nicely tapered down coat in a cool shade of kiwi. A present for myself! Why not? Like a shivery moth to a bright flame, I pounced.

Mistake. I could tell within seconds the sleeves would not accommodate my lengthy wingspan. Typical. I circled to the other side of the display to discover an equally generous offering, but in petites. Petites! There’s ALWAYS petites. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.

In a full Jan Brady rage, I grabbed a dainty coat and marched it to the manager. I inquired, “You have a ton of these in regulars and petites — any longs?” He checked the computer. Nope. No tall kiwis in existence. He could have left it there. But he didn’t.

He looked at me and said THAT line: “You can always get a similar coat from the men’s section.”

Blink.

Blink, blink, blink.

Stunned, I stood there, staring at this oaf for what seemed a full holiday season. Was it my job to explain to a clothing retailer you don’t tell a woman who’s perpetually searching for the rare jacket that covers her wrists to buy … a man’s coat? Boxy “loden green” lumberjack gear does not equal a gracefully tailored kiwi jacket.

They can put an astronaut on the moon. They can make an enormous plastic Big-Mouth-Billy-Bass-Fish-In-A-Santa-Hat-Lawn-Inflatable ($99 at Lowe’s. Seriously). But they can’t make sleeves long enough for tall women? Large and small stores alike devote tons of real estate to the other side of the bell curve. Petite sections are everywhere. Have you ever seen a tall section for women? I rest my case.

Retailers frequently swat me away with, “Look online.” Internet choices are limited as well, which explains my recent tweet: “Pretty ironic I can’t find any decent tall clothing on Amazon.”

I don’t recall what I finally said to that store manager, but I do remember dashing out of the place, feeling as deflated as a vinyl Billy Bass yard decoration at high noon. A man coat! I went straight home to check the mirror for 5 o’clock shadow.

Right now, I’m still behind with gift shopping. I was thrown off balance. Can you blame me? I’m as distracted and exasperated as Ralphie in “A Christmas Story.” It seems I have my own elusive Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle. It’s a lightweight packable tapered kiwi down jacket that actually fits.

As Ralphie learned, I’ll eventually begin to focus on what really matters. Meanwhile, fa la la la la. Look for me scrambling in the stores. I’m the one in the man parka.

Denise Snodell writes alternate weeks. Reach her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. On Twitter: @DeniseSnodell

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Written by my good friend Uche Belinda Nnoka

Question for any tall readers: At the places where you spend the bulk of your day, do you feel the need to dumb down on elements of your personality or character because people have issues with your height?

I'm a 6ft 8ins tall black female and throughout my life I have found that people have issues with my presence. Typically, any disagreements I have with an issue or point of view are angrily rebuffed with 'just because you're tall!' (there was seldom a complete sentence with that statement) or 'I'm not afraid of you!' I also find that people want to argue with me a lot more than with others because in their mind, I'm trying to dominate them with my presence as opposed to my reason. Why should it automatically be assumed that I am trying to be intimidating? Isn't it possible that I was disagreeing because their argument had no sound reason or logic? Rest assured that when ever I am trying to explain my point of view or disagreeing with something, trying to overwhelm people with my height isn't is never the strategy!

To many, tall people represent intimidation, despised authority, domination, oppression and someone to be fought with, which is curious. This can in turn result in a lot of hostility from those with such feelings as they spend their time and energy devising ways to try and put us down without even getting to know us. I wonder why tall people are viewed in the negative, more than in the positive? Well, this has largely been my experience anyway. How can the fact that you are a few inches taller have such a bizarre effect on people?

As this happened so often, I found myself saying little in meetings, or not offering my real point of view when it was asked for, for fear of being misunderstood. I was then looked at as not being a particularly useful member of the team because I wasn't participating in the conversations!! I found myself second guessing everything I was planning to say so as to not come across as 'aggressive' and 'domineering' and so consequently I said very little.

In addition to not saying very much in meetings I found that somehow my sense of style changed too. I was never told to change the way I looked but, somehow I ended up becoming a blander version of myself. I no longer wore my funky earrings or my chunky bracelets; I went from wearing clothing which was vibrant and colourful to having a wardrobe that consisted of largely black and blue colours. When I spoke to people I found myself tongue tied and unable to express myself adequately, much to the exasperation of those I was speaking to as well as myself.

Unless we are very strong mentally this is what happens when we consciously or unconsciously try to change ourselves into a version that people find acceptable. We become less than the people that God intended us to be.

It took me a while to realise all of this but when I did, I made the necessary changes with speed and precision. I left the church that I was attending (yes, this sort of mess happens in churches too), I quit jobs and I walked away from negative people whose strange behaviour was sapping my soul.

I do sometimes lament that I wasn't emotionally strong enough when I was younger to be myself regardless. It is a shame that it has taken me so long to get back to being who I really am, but better late than never. I still have opinions that are typically different to those around me, and it still causes friction at times, but I'm completely unbothered by this. I've decided that if I had no malice or ill intent in my heart when I was putting my point across and people choose to view that as my being intimidating or aggressive, that's on them. I refuse to waste my time and energy trying to placate the insecurities of such individuals. As I type this I'm wearing my red and black dress with my large hoop earrings which are almost the same size as a saucer just like I used to do! Stella has got her groove back!

Did you ever go through anything like this? If so how did you deal with it?

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Don't be intimidated! Turn some heads

It's a bold woman who wears 4-inch heels when she already towers over a room in bare feet. We talked with a handful of guys to get their take on fearless Amazon women in high heels.

As a 6'3" woman myself, I often wonder what men think when I wear high heels. As it turns out, most men love the look! So grab your stilettos and hit the town, tall women everywhere, because you're about to turn a few heads.

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How to deal with destructive males

A good friend of mine just posted a somewhat depressing piece on her blog. Understandably I'm not going to tell you who we are talking about.

In my experience it's "good girls" who are really keen to be in a committed relationship who hurt the most. They tend to be over 40 and know better but they still expect "Prince Charming" to come their way. In some cases this may be true. There may still be a "Prince Charming", but the law of averages tells me that you can't rely on what a man tells you. You need to put them on the spot. Tell them what you want and see (verify) if they are willing and / or able to deliver.

It's a fact: most men would rather go to be with you (for a one-night stand), than commit to you. How can you stop this for happening? Good question. It's not easy. But there are some ways...

1. Make sure you never call them first
2. Never meet them in your own hom
3. Don't let them pay for both your menus
4. Ask the right questions (in case you still want kids... ask them if they want kids etc.)
5. Never ever sound needy. They will use the knowledge to their advantage

Never say never because while we may have Life planned out, Life might have things differently planned for us. That is my athletic story.

I was born in Toronto, Ontario but grew up in the country, in the small village of Cookstown whose population is smaller than most high schools (population 800 people). As a child I only wished one day I could compete in the Olympic Games, but nothing in my youth of swinging from the monkey bars or participating in extracurricular sports in school would have ever told me that this wish would come to fruition.

However, on one fateful day Life would share its plans for me. While working at McDonald's restaurant at the age of 17 years old, a coach (Dave Hunt) from the University of Toronto saw my "never ending long legs" and wondered if I'd like to learn how to high jump. He introduced me to Carl Georgevski, who in turn introduced me to the High Jump. And the rest they say is history! I earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan and would be coached for the majority of my athletic career (even years after I graduated) by James Henry, the head coach of the Women's Track & Field program. That "fateful day" would prove to change the course of my life forever.

I am an Olympian and an 8-time Canadian Track & Field Champion in the High Jump. I have represented Canada on 20 national teams. I am the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist, as well as a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Pan American Games silver and bronze medalist, Francophone Games silver and bronze medalist, and a World University Games silver medalist. And if you had told me when I was a kid that I would become the athlete I am today, I wouldn't have believed it! Never say never.

On an aside, I'm also a nerd. I am an avid reader and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Ironically, the more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know. I hold a doctoral degree in the area of sport psychology from Michigan State University, specializing in high performance For more than 15 years, I have committed myself to the understanding and implementation of high performance sport as an athlete, as well as a scholar and a professional. It's no surprise that my research area of interest is looks at how elite athletes are able to make the leap – from Good to Great.

My passion off the track is simply to improve the culture of sport in Canada, where the power of sport beyond the podium is embodied and well understood by all Canadians.

Thank you for stopping in to learn a little about me. But, most importantly thank you for your support. None of us can achieve all that we do in life without the emotional and caring support of those around us!

Dr. Forrester

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Roxane Gay’s writing appears in Best American Mystery Stories 2014, Best American Short Stories 2012, Best Sex Writing 2012, A Public Space, McSweeney’s, Tin House, Oxford American, American Short Fiction, Virginia Quarterly Review, and many others.

She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. She is the author of the books Ayiti, An Untamed State, the New York Times bestselling Bad Feminist, the nationally bestselling Difficult Women and the New York Times bestselling Hunger.

She is also the author of World of Wakanda for Marvel. She has several books forthcoming and is also at work on television and film projects.

Visit her website