In a world where the lottery of nature defines your height, size and features, individuals can become celebrities based simply on how they look. But is being staggeringly tall or amazingly small a curse or a gift? What is everyday life like when you look extraordinary? And who is behind the images of these people circulating on the internet and in the media?
In The World's Tallest Woman and Me, broadcaster Mark Dolan (pictured left) sets off on a global quest to learn the truth about these individuals' lives. His exploration not only uncovers some incredible stories, but becomes a personal journey for Mark as his own preconceptions are challenged at every turn.
Mark begins his journey in Phoenix, Arizona, at a gathering of the Central Arizona Tall Society. At 6'5" himself, Mark has no trouble fitting in and shares a dance or two with Ellen, a 6'10" blonde. But Ellen reveals that being a tall woman makes it difficult to find love, let alone clothing, and Mark begins to learn that a tall life can often be a lonely life.
He then travels to Indianapolis, the home of Sandy Allen - the 7'7" woman long regarded as the official world's tallest woman. Sandy, 52, has become something of a celebrity, but her height has made it impossible to walk so she has to use a wheelchair to get around. Like Ellen, she reveals that being so tall - while giving her a celebrity status - has also made it difficult to find love. "There've been a few times when I wish I could have fallen in love with someone and gotten married and had a family and lived a 'normal' life," she says. "I'm a typical female, I would like to have somebody that I could put my hand on their shoulder and feel protected by them. I wouldn't want to be the man in the family, so to speak".
But is Sandy still able to claim the title of world's tallest woman? She tells Mark about a woman in China named Yao De Fen who may be another possible contender for the title. Mark continues his journey to a small Chinese village where he tracks down 35-year-old Yao De Fen. But will he be able to secure an interview with her? Is she actually the tallest woman in the world? And what's the price she's paid for being so tall?
As Mark makes a final journey to India to meet yet another tall woman, he's determined to discover if being extraordinarily tall can ever bring anyone happiness.
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