Wetall invites you today to explore the life of the tallest woman to have ever lived and understand why she could have outgrown the tallest man of all time.
Who was Zeng Jinlian, the Tallest Woman of All Time?
Zeng Jinlian was born on June 26, 1964, in the People’s Republic of China, in Yujiang, Hunan province. Unfortunately, she passed away on February 13, 1982, at the tender age of 17, while she was still growing. At that point, scoliosis prevented her from standing, and she relied on a wheelchair.
At just 18 months old, she could lift an impressive 106 pounds, equivalent to a bag of cement. Interestingly, her parents measured 5 feet 4 inches for her mother and 5 feet 1 inch for her father, while her three brothers were of normal height, standing at 5 feet 2 inches. At the time of her passing, Zeng weighed 286 pounds. Her hands measured 10 inches, and her feet were 14 inches. A pituitary gland disorder causing gigantism was responsible for her abnormal growth. Doctors had considered radiation treatment, but Zeng vehemently refused, not wanting to lose her hair.
How Tall Was Zeng Jinlian?
At the time of her death, Zeng Jinlian measured 8 feet 2 inches. She remains the only woman to have exceeded 8 feet (7 feet 11 inches) among just 12 people in total recorded at such extreme heights. In her era, she was the tallest person on Earth.
Had she not been taken at 17 years of age, it’s highly likely she would have surpassed the tallest man of all time, Robert Wadlow. He stood at 8 feet 11 inches before his passing at the age of 22, and he, too, continued to grow. It’s worth noting that Zeng had already outgrown Robert in height at precisely 17 years old. At that time, she measured 8 feet 1 inch, while Robert stood at 8 feet 1 inch. To illustrate their respective growth, here’s a comparative table, previously presented in another article:
| Age | Zeng Jinlian’s Height | Robert Wadlow’s Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 5 feet 1 inch | 5 feet 3 inches |
| 13 years | 7 feet 1 inch | 7 feet 2 inches |
| 16 years | 7 feet 10 inches | 7 feet 10 inches |
| 17 years | 8 feet 07 inch | 8 feet 03 inch |
Consequently, the tallest person of all time could have been a woman.
How Did She Pass Away?
Zeng Jinlian passed away at the age of 17 due to complications from her diabetes. Her gigantism and scoliosis did not improve her medical condition, especially considering the state of medical care in China at that time.
Picture of Zeng Jinlian
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