Sandra Elaine Allen (June 18, 1955 – August 13, 2008) was an American woman recognized by the Guinness World Records as the tallest woman in the world.[1][2] She was 7 feet 7 inches (231 cm) tall.[2]
Sandy Allen
Allen on the Wildwood New Jersey boardwalk in 1978
Allen wrote a book, Cast a Giant Shadow. Although over the years other women have taken the title of the tallest woman, Allen held it for the last sixteen years of her life.[2][3] Her height was due to a tumor in her pituitary gland that caused it to release growth hormone uncontrollably, between 200 and 1,000 times more than usual.[4] She grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana, and was raised by her grandmother, who worked as a cleaning woman.[4] At the age of 22, in 1977, she underwent surgery for the condition.[5] Lacking this procedure, Allen would have continued to grow and suffer further medical problems associated with gigantism.[2]
She appeared in Fellini's Casanova, in the TV movie Side Show, and in a Canadian/American documentary film, Being Different.[6] The New Zealand band Split Enz wrote a song about her, "Hello Sandy Allen", released on their 1982 album Time and Tide. Allen never married, saying that she was "an oldfashioned [sic] girl" and would not date a man shorter than her.[7][4]
In later years, Allen used a wheelchair because her legs and back could no longer support her tall stature while standing. At one point, she was bedridden due to disease, causing atrophy of the muscles. Due to this limitation, she spent her last years in Shelbyville, Indiana, in the same retirement center as Edna Parker, the oldest living human at the time.[8]
Allen died on August 13, 2008.[1][5] Her family friend, Rita Rose, revealed that she suffered from a recurring blood infection, along with Type 2 diabetes, breathing troubles, and kidney failure.[9]
A scholarship was dedicated in Allen's name at Shelbyville High School.[7] In 2020, Allen's friend and manager, John Kleiman, donated a collection of her memorabilia to Ripley's Museums.[3]
References
^ abMartin, DeAnna (August 14, 2008). "World's Tallest Woman Dies in Indiana at Age 53". ABC News. Retrieved August 26, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abJarosz, Francesca (April 15, 2011). "World's tallest woman, Sandy Allen, dies". The Indianapolis Star. from the original on April 15, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^"Tallest woman in the world taught children to accept differences". Los Angeles Times. August 14, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"World's Tallest Woman Dies at 53". CBC News Canada. August 13, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
The World's Tallest Woman: The Giantess of Shelbyville High, hawthornepub.com
sandy, allen, sandra, elaine, allen, june, 1955, august, 2008, american, woman, recognized, guinness, world, records, tallest, woman, world, feet, inches, tall, allen, wildwood, jersey, boardwalk, 1978bornsandra, elaine, allen, 1955, june, 1955chicago, illinoi. Sandra Elaine Allen June 18 1955 August 13 2008 was an American woman recognized by the Guinness World Records as the tallest woman in the world 1 2 She was 7 feet 7 inches 231 cm tall 2 Sandy AllenAllen on the Wildwood New Jersey boardwalk in 1978BornSandra Elaine Allen 1955 06 18 June 18 1955Chicago Illinois U S DiedAugust 13 2008 2008 08 13 aged 53 Shelbyville Indiana U S Known forFormer tallest woman in the worldHeight7 ft 7 in 231 cm Allen wrote a book Cast a Giant Shadow Although over the years other women have taken the title of the tallest woman Allen held it for the last sixteen years of her life 2 3 Her height was due to a tumor in her pituitary gland that caused it to release growth hormone uncontrollably between 200 and 1 000 times more than usual 4 She grew up in Shelbyville Indiana and was raised by her grandmother who worked as a cleaning woman 4 At the age of 22 in 1977 she underwent surgery for the condition 5 Lacking this procedure Allen would have continued to grow and suffer further medical problems associated with gigantism 2 She appeared in Fellini s Casanova in the TV movie Side Show and in a Canadian American documentary film Being Different 6 The New Zealand band Split Enz wrote a song about her Hello Sandy Allen released on their 1982 album Time and Tide Allen never married saying that she was an oldfashioned sic girl and would not date a man shorter than her 7 4 In later years Allen used a wheelchair because her legs and back could no longer support her tall stature while standing At one point she was bedridden due to disease causing atrophy of the muscles Due to this limitation she spent her last years in Shelbyville Indiana in the same retirement center as Edna Parker the oldest living human at the time 8 Allen died on August 13 2008 1 5 Her family friend Rita Rose revealed that she suffered from a recurring blood infection along with Type 2 diabetes breathing troubles and kidney failure 9 A scholarship was dedicated in Allen s name at Shelbyville High School 7 In 2020 Allen s friend and manager John Kleiman donated a collection of her memorabilia to Ripley s Museums 3 References Edit a b Martin DeAnna August 14 2008 World s Tallest Woman Dies in Indiana at Age 53 ABC News Retrieved August 26 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c d Swaminathan Nikhil August 14 2008 What causes gigantism Scientific American Retrieved April 20 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b World s tallest woman Sandy Allen memorabilia donated to Ripley museums WISH TV Indianapolis News Indiana Weather Indiana Traffic January 5 2020 Retrieved April 20 2021 a b c Bennetts Leslie August 7 1978 At 7 Foot 7 They Make the Best of a Burden The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved April 20 2021 a b World s Tallest Woman Dies In Indiana AP via CBS News August 13 2008 Retrieved April 20 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Tallest woman to attend showing The Globe and Mail October 27 1981 a b Jarosz Francesca April 15 2011 World s tallest woman Sandy Allen dies The Indianapolis Star Archived from the original on April 15 2011 Retrieved April 20 2021 Tallest woman in the world taught children to accept differences Los Angeles Times August 14 2008 Retrieved April 20 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link World s Tallest Woman Dies at 53 CBC News Canada August 13 2008 Retrieved April 20 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link External links EditThe World s Tallest Woman The Giantess of Shelbyville High hawthornepub com Biography buzzfeed com Sandy Allen at IMDb Profile educationworld com Life story msnbc msn com New York Times profile nytimes com Obituary in the Evansville Courier amp Press Sandy Allen at Find a GravePreceded byZeng Jinlian Tallest Recognized Woman1976 2008 Succeeded byYao Defen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sandy Allen amp oldid 1094787117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
