Rumeysa Gelgi Interview
Q. You hold the title of the tallest woman in the world. How has navigating life at such a unique height shaped the way you see the world, both literally and metaphorically?
Holding the title of the 'tallest woman in the world' has shaped how I view life in every possible sense. Literally, I see the world from a higher perspective, details others might overlook are part of my everyday view.
Metaphorically, it’s taught me empathy, patience, and resilience. Standing out in such an undeniable way has made me deeply aware of how differences can both isolate and inspire. It’s helped me appreciate that visibility can be a bridge, if used thoughtfully, to foster understanding and acceptance.
Q. Guinness World Records celebrates achievements, but your journey also includes advocacy and coding. How do you balance being seen for extraordinary traits with being recognized for skills and intellect?
I’ve always believed that being recognized for my height and being respected for my intellect are not mutually exclusive. My advocacy and my work in technology both come from the same desire: to redefine what capability looks like.
I balance these aspects by letting each inform the other. The attention my world records bring helps me amplify messages about accessibility, inclusion, and education. It’s about shifting the spotlight toward something meaningful.
Q. Visibility can be both empowering and overwhelming. Has there been a moment when being constantly noticed taught you something unexpected about yourself or others?
Absolutely. In my childhood, there was a time when constant attention felt overwhelming, when I couldn’t enjoy being outside without being stared at or asked questions. But over time, I came to understand that most people’s curiosity comes from wonder, not malice.
Now, I genuinely love it when people come up to say hello or ask kind questions. This experience taught me that while I can’t control being noticed, I can control what people notice me for — kindness, purpose, and authenticity.
Q. You are a Harvard-certified web developer. How does problem-solving in coding compare to the challenges you’ve faced as a public figure in everyday life?
Coding and public life share more similarities than people might think. Both require problem-solving, adaptability, and patience. When I debug code, I approach it calmly and logically. The same mindset helps when dealing with public expectations or accessibility barriers in daily life.
Coding has reinforced my belief that every problem, no matter how complex, has a solution. You just need the right approach and persistence to find it.
Q. Advocacy often requires vulnerability. How do you decide which stories from your personal experience to share and which to keep private?
Advocacy through personal experience is powerful, but it also demands emotional balance. I decide what to share based on purpose: if a story can educate, comfort, or empower someone else, I’ll share it.
But I also believe that privacy protects authenticity. Some parts of my journey, such as my relationships, are sacred to me, and keeping them private allows me the space and peace I need to stay grounded.
Q. Social media and public recognition allow your voice to reach millions. What is one change you hope to inspire in society through this platform that might not be obvious at first glance?
One change I hope to inspire, which may not be immediately obvious, is redefining what 'normal' looks like. I want society to see diversity in bodies, abilities, and paths in life not as exceptions, but as expressions of human variety.
Beyond disability advocacy or world records, I want to normalize difference itself — to show that uniqueness can be a source of strength, not limitation.
Q. Your story intersects with design, tech, advocacy, and visibility. If your life were a piece of code or a web app, how would you describe its 'functionality' to someone seeing it for the first time?
If my life were a web app, I’d describe its functionality as a mix of accessibility, adaptability, and connection. It would be designed to bridge worlds: medicine and technology, visibility and privacy, challenge and inspiration.
The code would be clean, responsive, and continuously evolving, just like me. Its main purpose would be to remind users that limitations can coexist with limitless potential.
Q. On a lighter note, if your height came with a superpower that could be used only once a day, what would it be and how would you use it?
If I had one superpower I could use once a day, it would be the ability to instantly make any space accessible for everyone — physically, digitally, or emotionally. I’d use it in hospitals, airports, classrooms, and online spaces — anywhere inclusion is lacking. That, to me, would be the ultimate way to turn my height, and my platform, into something that lifts others up too.
Bio:
Rumeysa Gelgi is a Turkish multiple-time world record holder, advocate, and web developer, best known as the tallest living woman in the world, officially recognized by Guinness World Records. Beyond her remarkable height, she uses her global platform to raise awareness about rare diseases, accessibility, and body diversity. Combining her background in technology with her passion for advocacy, Rumeysa aims to build a more inclusive digital and physical world where difference is not only accepted but celebrated.
Interviewed by - Divya Darshni
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