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World’s tallest woman on being different: ‘Not as bad as you think’

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="World" s="" tallest="" woman="" Rumeysa="" Gelgi="" via="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/10/14/20211014-rumeysa-gelgi-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>World&#x27;s tallest woman Rumeysa Gelgi poses with her mother during a news conference outside their home in Safranbolu, Karabuk province, Turkey, October 14, 2021. <em>Cagla Gurdogan, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>SAFRANBOLU, Turkey—At a little more than 7 feet tall, Rumeysa Gelgi has always stood out. </p><p>Now officially recognized as the world&#x27;s tallest woman, she wants to use that record to celebrate differences.</p><p>The 24-year-old, who was confirmed this week as the world&#x27;s tallest living female by Guinness World Records with an exact height of 7 feet and 0.7 inches, was born with Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disease that causes rapid growth among other abnormalities.</p><p>&quot;Being different is not as bad as you think. It can bring you unexpected success,&quot; Gelgi told reporters as she proudly stood up with the help of her walking frame. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/14/21/japans-centenarians-hit-record-86500">Japan&#x27;s centenarians hit record 86,500; male centenarians hit 10,000-plus for 1st time</a></li></ul><p>This is her second world record, after being confirmed as the tallest living female teenager in 2014, at the age of 18. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/13/21/p1-million-incentive-urged-for-oldest-filipino-alive">P1 million incentive urged for oldest Filipino alive</a></li></ul><p>Gelgi, who usually depends on a wheelchair or a frame to move around, said she hopes to use her title to raise awareness about rare genetic disorders, such as Weaver syndrome.</p><p>&quot;I personally think that differences and other features which seem like a disadvantage can be turned to advantages if you want it and make the effort for it. That is exactly what I did,&quot; she said.</p><p>The tallest man in the world, Sultan Kosen who was measured at <br/>8 feet, 2.8 inches in 2018, is also from Turkey. </p><p>Gelgi said she hopes to meet him in person one day. <strong>(Reporting by Mert Ozkan; Writing by Yesim Dikmen; Editing by Dominic Evans and Aurora Ellis)</strong></p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1773745" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Rumeysa Gelgi was confirmed this week as the world's tallest living female by Guinness World Records with an exact height of 7 feet and 0.7 inches.