Can you tell us about a funny or embarrassing moment as a tall woman?
A funny moment was when, during a city tour, I spotted a bustling crowd of Chinese tourists lined up for a group photo. I sneaked up behind them and simply positioned myself behind them in the frame. Since I was at least two or three heads taller, I stood out like a lighthouse—tall and blonde in comparison to my short, black-haired self. That got a big "hello" and a lot of fun! A great memory...!
What do you think about long legs?
I find long legs just as beautiful as short legs. For me, aesthetics are more important. Anyone who cares about themselves and their figure simply looks great – whether with short or long legs. And nice, long, well-fitting jeans naturally emphasize long legs. That's immediately noticeable.
Was there a moment in your life when you were really happy to be so tall?
Yes, quite often! For example, at concerts or in the supermarket, even around the house. The things you can accomplish without a stepladder... ;-) I also enjoy my height when swimming.
Where do you notice significant disadvantages with your height?
Definitely on an airplane! When all the XXL seats are taken and I try to squeeze into the far too narrow rows behind me. With a lot of flexibility, it works. But if the person in front of me throws themselves gracefully into their seat, you're glad when the pain in your knees subsides at some point...
Dancing isn't easy either. For a special occasion, you naturally want to dress nicely. For me, that always includes a nice pair of high heels. But then the choice of male dance partners is very limited. The only way to compensate for this shortcoming is to dance alone.
Another point that comes to mind is the choice of cars. As much as I love small cars like the Fiat 500 or the Mini Cooper, I have no desire to fold myself into a car.
What would you love to wear if you were much smaller?
Definitely high heels! That's why I'm so envious of shorter ladies. High heels are the epitome of sex appeal for me. At 1.86 m, I'd look more like a stalk of asparagus in 15 cm heels.
What do you consider a real gap in the market for tall women?
In addition to long jeans, I also see a real gap in the market for stylish shoes for tall women. I don't mean sneakers, those are plentiful. I'm more referring to low-heeled pumps in larger sizes. The market is changing, but the selection is nowhere near as great as it is for smaller sizes. And my shoe size (42/43) isn't unusual anymore.
Would a shorter man be an option for you?
I even have one! ;-) Our height difference is only three centimeters, but wearing higher heels is something you have to be very careful about. It doesn't bother us in the slightest.
Besides, for me, completely different factors play a role in a relationship than physical height. It's not entirely unimportant, but it's also not essential for a relationship. And considering the average German man is 1.79 m tall, I was lucky to have found one who was 1.83 m tall. :-)
Do you often struggle with prejudices against tall women?
Not exactly prejudice. More like stupid comments, for example, when I actually wear a slightly higher shoe. Some people can't understand that. But that really bothered me as a young girl and made me feel insecure. Today I laugh about it and walk even more upright. Everyone has advantages and disadvantages with their height. You just have to accept it and make the best of it, otherwise life becomes a burden.
Do you have a particular tall woman as a role model?
Even as a teenager, I was a huge fan of Elle Macpherson! Her amazing body, her charming personality, her attitude to life—everything about her always fascinated me.
What's it like in your family? Is everyone there that tall?
Of my four siblings (two sisters and two brothers), only my two brothers are as tall as me. It's always exciting to talk to my sisters. They experience the opposite side of life than shorter women. They almost always have to shorten their pants. My brothers and I often swapped jeans when we were kids; they had the same long legs as me.
My own daughter (15) is also as tall as me. She's currently going through the same experiences I had as a teenager. I try to encourage her in this regard and constantly point out the advantages that tall women also have. The fact that we can swap clothes is simply fantastic. My son (13) is still growing. According to his orthopedist's body measurements, he'll probably be over 1.90 m tall.
