Any woman that stands tall enough to nearly touch the sky must be heaven-sent.
Studies have shown that height is associated with strength, power, and dominance. For women, it can cause others to feel intimidated by this unique trait, especially men. Imagine standing 5-foot-10 in flats and the moment you put on heels, you're 6 feet. No one wants to be inundated with thoughts of being smaller just to satisfy others insecurities.
We chatted it up with some captivating tall women who exude power by walking it like they talk it. No matter their height, these women have found solace in their gorgeous gams because it makes them extraordinary.
Tanasha
Her Story:
I am 6'4" tall and I believe I really started to own my height back in 2012, when I created prettytallstyle.com. I found myself in a fashion rut and found it a bit difficult to find affordable and stylish clothes that fit my tall frame. I was tired of wearing mainly standard size clothes and making them work. When I started my tall blog, I knew I wanted it to be a tall women's resource, to make it easier for girls who were vertically blessed like me, to find items that were made specifically for their long-limbed bodies and feet.
It forced me to step out of my comfort zone and virtually break out of my shy shell and put myself out there. It's like before where I would shy away from people staring at me and try to shrink myself, with my style blog, it was the opposite, like "Hey everyone, I'm really tall. Look at me and this maxi dress that sweeps the floor, jeans that cover my ankles, jacket with sleeves that cover my wrists, or check out these bright yellow size 13 shoes I'm wearing." (Laughs)
It forced me in a good way to own my height, long legs, arms, feet, and all.
At 15, I hated being tall because I didn't know anyone else like me, and thought very negatively about it because it was so hard to [find] cute clothes like my friends that fit right and I was taller than all the boys. But once I was older and went to college, things changed, the boys were taller, there were more tall size clothing retailers. I started to gain my confidence then.
And now at 42, I'm still blogging and surrounded by a virtual community of tall, inspiring, supportive women who help to reinforce that confidence in me that tall is beautiful, plus I have a wonderful tall husband who thinks so too.
Hannah
Her Story:
I've been over six feet [tall] since 6th grade. For a very long time, into my twenties even, I was very uneasy with my height. I seldom wore heels and was always shrinking myself by scrunching up my shoulders. But, I was so tired of wasting time with this insecurity. I started to write honestly about being tall and had an article published in Bitch Magazine. In 2014, I won Miss Tall International and co-hosted a tall girl flash mob with Bree Wijnaar in Grand Central Station.
For me, embracing my height has been a journey of body positivity, one where I have sought to like all of me no matter how they are received by someone else.
I still have my awkward moments, but I can honestly say that today, I really enjoy being a tall woman.
Jessica
Her Story:
I thought it was a curse! It all started in high school. I was mocked often because I was taller than most of my classmates. On those occasions, when we had to be on a queue, I was made to stand last on the queue. I felt bad always, I wanted a reduced height, I wanted to be friends with the 5'5''--foot girls. Most of the time, I cried because I was called a walking tree. It was terrible. They made fun of me and I thought I was abnormal. I lost confidence and I hid from the cruel world.
Then finally, I went to college to study law. The game changed. I became aware of how beautiful my height is. I guess I listened to a lot of inspirational messages because I was in search of closure. My confidence grew and it was a major comeback. I wore sky-high heels and knew the only boundary I had is myself. "Oh! She is a model." No, honey. I am not a model. I don't have to be a model to be proud and confident about my height. High school made me feel like being 6-foot [tall] was a curse.
I channeled all that newly acquired confidence. Who wouldn't want to watch a 6-foot lady confidently arguing in court on a lawyer's rope? That is a great sight, you know. I found myself. Sometimes you must chill and avoid mounting pressure on yourself and never forget to show those never-ending legs.
Tall is confidence.
Ebony
Her Story:
Growing up tall was probably one of the hardest things I had to go through. You get called names, you can never find pants long enough, you're taller than all the boys, and the mere thought of wearing heels was definitely out of the question! It's like being forced into the spotlight everywhere you go. Not to mention, growing up in a small town, just made it 10x worse because you feel like you're the only one going through this. I get it, I've been there.
It wasn't until I reached my mid-teen years that I realized being tall had taken a huge toll on my self-esteem and I had to do something about it. [From there] I learned how to use my height as an advantage! I never was an athlete, so I had to find another approach: modeling.
Modeling was something that I always wanted to do since I was probably old enough to walk but being that my self-esteem was so low growing up, I didn't want any extra attention. Once I reached the age of 17, I had my first photoshoot and all I could think to myself was, "This is it! This is what I want to do!" So I started researching everything fashion/modeling-related. When I found out that the modeling industry is mostly made up of tall girls, you couldn't beat me to a casting call! I'm telling you, I was on it!
Now that I'm 22 years old and 6', I look back on what I've been through. I wouldn't change anything because that molded me into the strong individual I am today! I wish I could go back and tell my younger self, "It'll all come together in the end. The people that make fun of you now will be begging to be your friend and telling people how they know you in the future. Your height is a blessing, not a curse."
Cindy
Her Story:
I love being tall and have embraced my height for a long time. Yes, when I was younger and in school, it bothered me being called names, such as "giraffe". But being tall is considered beautiful! I love my height because it literally makes me stand out. I don't let my tall frame make me insecure if pieces don't fit me just right, like with pants or long sleeves tops. If they fall a little short, I rock them anyway with confidence! How do you think the trend crop pants and ¾ sleeves trend got started? Us tall GLAMAZONS are the reason! I never viewed it as a #tallgirlproblem but just a simple #tallgirlsituation that I have learned to adapt to. I do try to find pants with longer inseam but if I don't, and it is cute, I will buy them anyway.
Being 5'11" has also never stopped me from wearing high heels either, even when it makes me just as tall or slightly taller than my husband who is 6'3''. I usually wear between 3 to 4.5 inch heels. Being tall is who I am and I want to show that I love my height because I know there are tall girls and women out there who are still insecure about their height. So, if they ever see me on the street in heels and pants that may be a little short, perhaps it would give them the little boost of encouragement that they can embrace their height too.
Cheyenne
Her Story:
The older I get, I recognize that God gives us gifts, some of which we cannot comprehend. Height is one of those gifts. I am currently 22 years old and I am 6'2''! Although I am aware of how tall I am, I have always for the most part felt "average", being tall is my normal. That is also because my whole family, from immediate to extended, are tall, so I never felt out of place or awkward. It was not until I got to high school that I started to feel out of place and different compared to my peers.
I never fit into anything, so my clothes never really fit correctly and I did not think I was pretty, so I hung my head low. I hated when people would stop me in the store and ask me questions or make jokes. I felt that I was being put on the spot and I feel because I was a tall young girl that is what made heads turn. My brothers were also tall and never received half the looks or questions I did. I started to take God's gift and let the world make me feel it was a curse. It was not until I was a sophomore in college that I really started accepting and embracing my height within this world.
The one thing I always hear people say is "you are too tall for heels", and that is so far from the truth. One day, I was at the mall and I saw these size 11 sparkly gold heels on the clearance rack. I fell in love and I knew these were meant to be my shoes. The first time I wore them, friends and even other random people, kept questioning why I would wear these 4-inch heels if I was already so tall.
I realized that God did not make me tall to be quiet and scared to be present. I am tall because when I walk into a room, God needed my presence to be known he needed my voice to be heard.
Not many people know but with height comes authority and power and that is not something God just hands out. God needed everyone who gazed upon me to know I, Cheyenne Tyler Jacobs, had purpose. So I no longer hide.
I started loving who I am and not giving a thought to those who joked about my height. I get stopped often by people asking questions about my height and I think it is amazing. I found stores (mostly online) that I could buy clothes that fit and are stylish. I started hanging with people who lifted me up, who did not bring me down. I started to dig up that young girl with that vibrant spirit and I made her a woman. I realized tall was not only my normal but it was my blessing and I am proud to be 6"2. If there is any advice, I could give to any young girl or woman who is struggling with height is keep your head high.
Your height is a gift and you are beautiful, even if society and those around you cannot see it. Just know you are not alone. There is a community of tall beautiful tall women waiting to welcome you with open arms. Be blessed and stay beautifully tall.