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World's Tallest Woman Was Inspiration To Children

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The Associated Press

Published: August 14, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - A woman who grew to be 7 feet 7 inches tall and was recognized as the world's tallest female died Wednesday. She was 53.

Sandy Allen, who used her height to inspire schoolchildren to accept those who are different, died at a nursing home in her hometown of Shelbyville, family friend Rita Rose said.

Allen had been hospitalized in recent months with a recurring blood infection, along with diabetes, breathing troubles and kidney failure.
Guinness World Records confirmed that Allen was still listed as the tallest woman.

Coincidentally, Allen lived in the same nursing home, Heritage House Convalescent Center, as 115-year-old Edna Parker, whom Guinness has recognized as the world's oldest person since August 2007.

Allen said a tumor caused her pituitary gland to produce too much growth hormone. She underwent an operation in 1977 to stop further growth.

But Allen was proud of her height, Rose said. "She embraced it. She used it as a tool to educate people."

Allen appeared on television shows and spoke to church and school groups to bring youngsters her message that it was all right to be different.

She won a role in Federico Fellini's 1976 film "Casanova," appearing as "Angelina the Giantess." She was featured in the 1981 Canadian documentary "Being Different." She also appeared in a TV movie called "Side Show" in 1981.

Allen weighed 6 1/2 pounds when she was born in June 1955. By age 10, she had grown to be 6 feet 3 inches tall. By 16, she was 7 feet 1 inch tall.

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