I was debating on whether or not to write this blog post. You see I was struggling with the issue of again letting the world know more of my “business”…lol Especially really personal feelings. Although it may not seem like it at the moment, I am a pretty private person. But after watching a trailer for a new documentary titled “Tall Girls – The Story of Giants” I felt I had no choice but to write this post. While watching the trailer I could personally relate with some of the girls stories. Yes when I am out in public, I get stared at a lot and I do mean a lot. I get it that most people don’t see a 6’4″ person, let alone a woman of that height everyday. So people have a tendency to look and then look twice to make sure their eyes are really seeing what they think they are seeing. In order for me not to be driven mad, or have a complex and become a hermit, I to had to learn to block out the stares, glares and double takes.
When I was in elementary school I was literally having growing pains and my pediatrician referred me to an endocrinologist. My mother was asked if she would like to put me on something to help stunt or slow down my growth. Thankfully for me my mother said no! If I had the choice as a teenager though, back then I probably would have said yes. I was always the tallest of all my classmates from elementary school and up, except for maybe one or two boys. I was tall, extremely shy, clumsy (from my mother’s account…lol), lanky and I had no particular “sense of style” (although I thought I did)…lol You see when I was in school it was hard to find junior size jeans that were long enough for my ever growing legs. I had braces on my teeth for a period of time and if I recall I also had a jheri curl for some time..lol Don’t get me wrong though, my school age years were some of the best years of my life. You see although I was super tall, I wasn’t made fun of in elementary school, middle school or high school. I had lots of friends and I was social in school, pretty much everyone knew who I was even if it wasn’t by name. All you had to say was the really tall girl…lol. While my sister and cousin enjoyed going to concerts, the mall and meeting boys, I preferred staying home in my room. I would read a lot of books and I was always taking my grandmother’s Town and Country magazines, imagining the life I wanted to live. I was always doing different artsy crafty type things with paper. I even used to make fake fingernails out of paper and tape and I would polish them and then glue them on my fingernails…lol Geeky yes I know..lol But I enjoyed all of this. I was content in my sheltered and comfortable walls.
I know we all have our awkward stages and moments. For some it may be only a year or two for others it may be a longer period of time. But for tall girls especially, I think it is a bit harder. It is harder because we can’t play shrinking violet. We don’t blend into the crowd. No matter what, we always stand out and are noticed. Again harder for the simple fact that although you may look just as awkward as your friends, with the wrong hairstyle, braces or clothes, you have to deal with being taller than everybody else, including most, if not all of the boys. So your friends who may be going through their awkward phase at the same time as you, may still have the date to the school dance, but you don’t because you’re taller than all of the boys. Its a sad story yes I know but I only write about it because it does have a happy ending. I want young tall girls who might happen across this post to know that they are not alone and that their day at the dance (with a date) is coming if it hasn’t already happened. In high school I never dated and never got asked to a school dance. I even went to my senior prom without a date. Yes I felt bad, I hated being so tall at that time, because of it.
But when I went to college, well my second year at CSU Long Beach something happened. I started to blossom for lack of a better word. I started doing my hair, wearing make-up and dressing a whole lot better. I grew into my height. I was no longer awkward and clumsy, I was graceful and elegant. My confidence and self esteem started to soar. With that came the attention from the boys. While in my second year of college one of my friends was looking through some of my yearbooks and she said, “you’re the ugly duckling”. I was like what (feelings all hurt) until she explained that looking at the pictures I looked a bit rough, not ugly, just plain, but boy was I pretty now. I got it, kinda sorta, I didn’t think I looked that bad in high school..lol But I understood what she was trying to say. I had finally come into my own and turned into the swan I was meant to be. When I turned 21 and started going to night clubs I was the girl who quickly got asked to dance. The one who the club owners and bouncers would remember and recognize. The one who the DJ would dedicate a song to. Why? What changed? I was still the same height. My features were still the same. I believe it was my confidence and self-esteem. What I learned is that if you feel like you are pretty, unique or even beautiful, chances are someone else will too. But just the same if you feel like you are weird, ugly or a freak of nature, believe me someone else will also.
I probably could go on writing forever but I will try and conclude it here. I am 6’4″ tall. This is extremely tall for a woman. I have been called a giraffe to my face only once in my 36 years of life. (I’ll tell you all that story another time..lol) But I have been called a supermodel, a hot model, America’s next top model, a model, pretty, stunning, beautiful, lovely, statuesque, Barbie, a princess, gorgeous, and a gazelle all on more than one occasion. If you’re a young tall girl just hang in there. I promise you, your date or I should say dates to the dances will come. You have to believe that you are beautiful and embrace your God given uniqueness. You just might be the next Tyra Banks, Elle McPherson, Gabrielle Reece, Lisa Leslie, Giselle, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams or the ever so fabulous Kimora Lee. All stunning, gorgeous and fabulously tall swans, that who I’m sure have all had their ugly duckling stories. Or even better the beautiful, stunning, fabulous and confidently tall “you” that you were meant to be!
Thank you so much for reading!
23 Comments
Francine
Thank you for sharing. Although, I am 6’1″ I have experienced almost everything you have exlerienced. When I stepped out of the shadows and into myself with the help of my grandmother, I also gained self-confidence. It does all work out in the end. Stand tall an be proud, it is a gift from God. Take the blessing and be thankful. I know I am!
Pretty Tall Style
Thank you Francine! Very well said!
Pretty Tall Style
You’re welcome and very well said Francine. 🙂
Edda Baumann-von Broen
Thank you for writing this after seeing the trailer to my film. I can agree on everything you are saying here. Today is the premiere of our documentary in Berlin in front of 400plus people. I would guess half of them will be taller than 6′ and more than 50 girls will be 12 years or younger. I hope I can show them that in the end it’s great to be outstanding.
PS: You do look stunning and you write beautifully. Tall girls unite!
Edda
PS: Please join and participate in our facebook site “Tall Girls – A Story of Giants”.
Pretty Tall Style
Thank you so much! I appreciate you for taking the time to read my post and commenting. I hope to be able to see the film in its entirety one. Hopefully it will make its way to the states. Good Luck!
Tanasha
mariam
hi tanasha.. I’m 17 years old, I’m from south Italy e but my father is from morocco.. I’m 6’2″ tall and I had exactly the problem you said.. just the same story you described.. but I play basketball and since this year or so I’ve been being noticed by boys, I don’t know why but something has changed and it’s really satisfing to feel that people appreciate you because are that tall.. however sometimes when I walk people still stare at me and start shouting things like “God look at that girl.. she’s so tall..” and this stil
l hurts.. but I’m trying to take that easy.. I like ghbhhhgghhmyhgh body, I’m proud of it. However you are a beautiful woman..
mariam
Sorry for the errors.. I was saying you’re a beautiful woman and I wanted to thank you writing this post.. W tall girls <3.. best wishes.
Pretty Tall Style
Thank you and I completely understood. 🙂
Pretty Tall Style
Hello Mariam! 6’2″ is an amazing height and I know you are a stunner! I am happy to read your comment because I wrote this post for girls like yourself and it is nice to know it was not written in vain. You should be proud of your height and amazing uniqueness. Good luck with basketball and the boys. <3
Emma
Tanasha, I wish you had been around 15 years ago when I was in the middle of my full-on awkward phase. You write so eloquently, I mean even though (happily) those days are long gone for me, it’s such a comfort to know that other women out there went through the exact same things. Like Mariam has said, it takes a while to understand that being noticed can be a GOOD thing! Thank you for an awesome post, and for being such a positive role model to a new generation of tall chicks!
Pretty Tall Style
Wow! Thank you so much Emma! This made me tear up because it is my hope to help tall girls who are going through the things that we have already been through and letting them know that they are not alone. That there is light at the end of what may seem like a dark tunnel. They need to know that tall girls rock! 🙂
J
U are very beautiful.
Pretty Tall Style
Thank you 🙂
Nancy Miller
You are gorgeous and inspiring! I am 59 and grew up feeling really, really tall and awkward at 5’10” but my daughter now 25 is 6’3″ and has a story similar to yours. She has learned how to embrace her height and beauty. She used her height to become a good volleyball player and she met a great (and tall) guy through volleyball. Good luck to you. Nancy M. of Maryland, USA
Pretty Tall Style
Nancy thank you so much!. I love to hear stories such as your daughters! My mother is 5’11” (she would kill me if I said her age…lol) and felt the same way. I really appreciate you reading and sharing. I wish you and your daughter the best as well! 🙂
Julie
I’m tall too, 6’1″, and I grew up feeling many of the things you did. People say horribly mean things without realizing they’re being mean. It’s hurtful, but I’ve come to just blow it off as their ignorance and try not to let it hurt. Clothes shopping is getting easier, and I know that my daughter will have an easier time of it. Bravo to you for your honesty!
Pretty Tall Style
People often do say things to tall people that are hurtful (most not really knowing it). Unfortunately even if they don’t mean it to be hurtful it sometimes is. Hopefully with more “tall” awareness things will continue to change for the better. There are way more resources for stylish “tall” clothes now then there were a few years ago. :)Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it so much!
Kristen
Thank you so much for writing this. it really inspired me because I feel like i know what you went through. im a 6 foot 2 college student that is plus size so im usually noticed first. I always gave my self hell about being so tall and sticking out but im trying to embrace it and live my life. this really inspired me to keep my head up and be proud that im tall.. thank you again.
Pretty Tall Style
Kristen
Thank you so much for reading and you are welcome. I am happy that I did write this post and express my feelings because I know there are many other tall girls/women who have felt and still feel the same way. I just want others to know that they are not alone and more importantly that you, me and them are beautiful and unique. So please keep your head up and I hope you will continue to follow.
Tanasha
Kristen
Thanks so much for sharing this story!! I agree with other posters…I wish I could have read your story 10 years ago. I am 6’0 and your story is pretty much similar to mine…except I was ridiculously shy in school…so I was known for being tall and quiet-which sometimes did not give off the right impression to my peers. I was also really into crafts and arts..but my mother pushed me towards sports (to become more sociable and less shy).
The other day, I looked at old high school pictures and wondered why I even thought I looked “awkward” or “ugly.” Basically, I realized that confidence and time was the key….and I feel way more comfortable in my body than I did 10 years ago. We live, we learn, and we get better. Thanks for sharing your message, and I hope many tall young women will get to hear it!!
Pretty Tall Style
Thank you so much Kristen. It makes me so happy to have others share their stories as well. I really do hope this blog catches on for young tall girls and I will feel like a job well done even if it only reaches and helps one. 🙂
Kim Morr McCormac
What a lovely read! I’m feeling short at 5’11″…(I had an aunt who said she was 5’12” when asked:). I am a bit older than you, but have come to love my my height. 5 pounds doesn’t show on me and clothing comes in so many more options. However, I cannot wait for the current trend of platform heels to go away. I love to wear heels, just not the platforms. Stay positive!
Pretty Tall Style
Hi Kim!
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I will definitely stay positive. 🙂