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Meet Diana Armstrong, The Woman With The Longest Nails Ever
Diana Armstrong is a 63-year-old grandmother from Minneapolis, who set the record for the longest nails in the entire world. According to Guinness World Records, she has smashed the records for the longest pair of fingernails on a pair of hands ever and the longest set of fingernails on a pair of hands ever (female) (female).
On March 13, 2022, her magnificent fingernails were measured and found to be a combined length of 1,306.58 cm (42 ft 10.4 in). That is more than twice as tall as a giraffe and is longer than a typical yellow school bus.
People have called her names, said her fingernails were disgusting, and asked whether she was just seeking attention. She can use the restroom; curious onlookers inquire if she can take showers or baths; and if she can zip a zipper (nope). In a restaurant, a young man once approached Armstrong and claimed that her nails made him lose his appetite.
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Who Is Diana Armstrong?
Diana Armstrong is the Guinness World Record holder for the longest nails in the world. While explaining how she gets the nails, she said having the longest nails in the world takes a whole village to maintain and can lead to challenges during your daily life.
She has experienced everything in the 25 years since she began growing her fingernails into the record-breaking length of 42 feet, 10.4 inches of keratin measured by Guinness World Records between her eight fingers and two thumbs.
Ayanna Williams (USA) previously held the record for the longest set of hands’ fingernails before deciding to trim them in 2021. Diana’s fingernails are a whopping 573.03 cm longer than Ayanna’s (18 ft 8 in).
Her record-breaking performance has its roots in a tragedy that her entire family experienced back in 1997. Latisha, her 16-year-old daughter, passed away following an asthma attack while she was sleeping.
“My infant daughter called me from the store and said, “Ma, Tisha won’t wake up. Diana remarked, “That was the worst day of my life. She stated that Latisha had manicured her nails the day prior and noted that following her devastating and unexpected passing, she was unable to trim them.
Diana Armstrong stated, “I believe Tisha [the previous person to do my nails] would be pleased with me. “My kid is who I think of when I grow my nails,” the speaker said.
How Diana Armstrong Grow Her Nails
Diana Armstrong has gone through everything in the 25 years since she started growing her fingernails into a record-breaking 42 feet, 10.4 inches of keratin between her eight fingers and two thumbs, as measured by Guinness World Records.
She faced a tragedy with her entire family in 1997, which served as the inspiration for her record-breaking performance. Her 16-year-old daughter Latisha suffered an asthma attack while she was sleeping, and she later died.
It takes an entire community to keep the longest nails in the world, which might be difficult to maintain in daily life.
Diana claimed that her grandchildren assist her with the upkeep, spending five hours polishing and filing them. She claimed that each time she paints her nails, up to 20 bottles of lacquer is needed.
She continued by saying she had given up on performing several tasks, including operating zippers, picking up objects from the floor, and driving. Diana said, “I can pick up bills if I need to pick up money off the floor, but if I drop change on the floor, that will just stay down there.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, stated in the same press release that honoring Diana’s accomplishment was an “absolute privilege,” adding:
“The background to her record is both intriguing and tragic, and Diana’s will to carry on her daughter’s legacy in her own special way is admirable. Family is everything to Diana, and she is fortunate to have a wonderful support system around her. This is necessary when each fingernail is longer than a ski pole.
Armstrong strengthens fingernails with acrylic powder, which also helps to maintain them straight rather than curved. She always carries super glue and her nail kit in case they do break.
Her nails are cylinder-shaped, thicker than a golf club shaft but thinner than a pool cue’s butt end. They feel bumpy to the touch, resembling a polished, smooth carrot.
Diana’s hands are held close to her chin when she stands, and the tips of her nails rest on the floor. She crosses her right-hand nails over her lap when she sits, resting her left hand on the floor. She sleeps with one hand on her head and the other at her side. She eats with a fork that is very long.
The Pain Of Being The The Woman With The Longest Nails Ever
Armstrong has delicate features, thinning dreadlocks, and a serene disposition that borders on regality. She has particularly strong fingers because of her years of hair braiding, which is necessary for carrying about 9 pounds of fingernails per hand. (She had the doctors’ office weigh them.)
Her fingernails resemble a burden in many respects. Only once every two or three weeks does she leave the house. She is not a driver. She no longer has a job. She uses a knuckle when she has to pick her nose.
Either a grandchild helps her put on sandals, or she wears slip-on shoes. She often dresses in easy-to-wear dashiki dresses rather than garments with zippers. Once a year, her grandkids spend days polishing her nails. The nails are likewise painted in a variety of hues.
Her children now accept their mother’s quirks instead of urging her to trim her nails. She will also continue to grow her nails. Latisha’s sake. She remarked, “I don’t think I’ll ever cut them. “If I cut them, that part of her won’t be with me any longer, but it doesn’t mean I’m finally embracing her death. This keeps the feeling that I still have her.”
