How to Determine if You Are a Tall Girl

Last Updated: September 16, 2022 Approved

You're used to towering over all of your female friends. You feel guilty for blocking people's views when you go to the movies or a concert. When you first meet people, they stare up at you and say, "Wow, you're so tall!" -- and you're like, "…Yep." If these things have happened to you, then yeah, you are a tall girl. But it doesn't have to be a tragedy. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and if you're tall, you should be proud of your long legs and beautiful looks. Here's how to know if you're tall -- and how to make the most of it.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Determining if You're a Tall Girl

1
See if you're taller than most of the girls you know. If you're standing around a group of your friends and you're towering over them, then yeah, you're tall. Check out a photo of you and your friends and see where you stack up -- if you're a head above the rest of your friends, then yep, you're probably tall. But remember that it also depends on who you hang out with -- you won't look so tall if you're hanging out with members of the volleyball team instead of regular girls.
2
See if you have a hard time finding clothes that fit you. If you regularly have a hard time finding pants that fit you because they are always too short, then yeah, you're tall. You may even hear your girlfriends complaining about always having to hem their pants because they are too long and may wonder what the heck they are talking about. You may also have a hard time finding shirts that don't look like belly shirts when you put them on.^{[1]
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- As for shorts, if you're tall, then it may be hard for you to find shorts that cover much of your legs; if your school has a dress code where your fingertips have to reach the bottom of your shorts, it may be nearly impossible for you to find a pair of shorts that is long enough.
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3
See if everyone around you asks if you play basketball or volleyball. If everyone around you asks if you play these "tall girl" sports, then it may be a sign that you are taller than average. This can be annoying if you don't actually play those sports -- or any sports at all! People love to assume things about others because of their looks, and you shouldn't get too discouraged by this.
4
See if you're 5'9" or taller. Though this measurement can change depending on your age and what country you're from. For example in Baltic countries, this is only a few inches above the average, whereas, in countries like Mexico, where people are shorter, this is quite a tall height for a woman.^{[2]
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5
See if you're just hitting puberty earlier than other people. In general, girls hit puberty between the ages of 8-13, and boys hit puberty between the ages of 9-15. This means that, if you feel tall but you're only 11, you may just be developing faster than a lot of your girl friends, and may be taller than the boys around you, who will take a bit longer to catch up. If you're still in the midst of puberty and many of your friends haven't hit puberty yet, then don't worry -- in a year or two, you'll be surprised by how quickly you stop feeling like "the tall girl."
6
See if you can never blend in when you're in a crowd. If you're in a room full of people, and your friends can spot you right away from across the crowded space, then yeah, it may be because you're so tall that you stand out easily. There's nothing wrong with that -- who says that standing out is a bad thing?
7
See if you never have enough legroom. Whether you're sitting on a plane or in the passenger seat of your friend's car, if you always feel like you have to move your legs to one side, recline the seat, or just contort your body to get your feet on the ground, then you may be a tall girl.
8
See if you tower over most of the guys your age. If those middle school or high school dances are awkward because any guy you dance with is just short enough to be eye-level with your chest when it's time to sway to a slow song, then yeah, you're a tall girl. But don't be discouraged -- there's a good chance that a lot of the guys you know haven't stopped growing yet.
9
See if you feel guilty for always blocking everyone's view when you go to a concert or the movies. You can't help being tall. But still, you find yourself feeling guilty whenever you go to a concert or the movies, because you just know that the person behind you can't see a thing. There's not much you can do about it -- except slouch in your seat. If this sounds like you, then you're probably a tall girl.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Being Proud to Be Tall

1
Remember that tall is beautiful. And hey, so is being short. Don't think that being tall means you have to be gangly, awkward, or unappealing. Plenty of beautiful women are tall, and they know how to own their tall look by not shying away from attention. Don't think that being tall makes you somehow inadequate or unappealing to guys.
- Here are some tall female celebrities, just to show you that you're not alone: Gwyneth Paltrow (5'9"), Jordin Sparks (5'9"), Charlize Theron (5'10"), Taylor Swift (5'10"), Famke Janssen (6"), and Maria Sharapova (6'2").
2
Don't slouch. You may think that slouching will make you look shorter, and while this is literally true, it will actually call more attention to the fact that you're not happy with your height. So stand tall and proud and don't worry about towering over the people around you -- they should be the ones wishing they were as tall as you!
3
Don't worry about being taller than the guys. Sure, guys may be intimidated by you because you're so tall, but that doesn't mean you can't talk to them or show them how awesome you are. Don't think that you have no chance with a guy just because he's shorter than you. If you find a guy you like, get to know him and you'll see that height is just a number.
4
Remember that the grass is always greener on the other side. You may be feeling miserable because you feel like you're taller than all of your friends and that all of your shorts are too short, but your short friend may hate having to stand on her tip-toes to talk to people or having to hem all of her jeans by half a foot so that they'll fit her. You may not want to be tall, but plenty of girls would die to be in your shoes! Whether you're tall or short, it's all about embracing who you are instead of wishing you were someone else.

Community Q&A

Question

I'm as tall as my parents at the age of 12, about 5 ft 6 in. How tall will I be? I want to be super tall.

Community Answer

Height is hereditary, so if there are tall people in your family tree, you have a better chance of being tall. You can still be growing up until your late teens or early twenties. It would be hard to predict your full adult height at age 12.
Question

I just turned 14 and I'm 5'11. My doctor says I'll be 6'1-6'4, and no guys like me because I'm too tall. Is there anything I can do about this? I hate my height so much and I wish I could look normal.

Community Answer

It doesn't matter whether people like you or not because of your height. If someone judges you or doesn't want to go out with you because you're tall, that's their loss. There is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to appearance. The way you look is just fine. Supermodels are really tall! Since you can't change your height, all you can really do is try to embrace it. Be yourself and surround yourself with people that love you and support you.
Question

I'm embarrassed for being short. My height is only 144 cm, and my friends are 150-160 cm. Do I need to be embarrassed or be thankful for my height?

Community Answer

You shouldn't be embarrassed. Good things come in small packages, as they say. Most people aren't happy with their height, but it really doesn't matter. Good people won't judge you because of how tall you are, they will only care about who you are as a person. So, be thankful for your height, because you stopped growing when you hit perfect!