Diana Armstrong holds the Guinness World Record for the longest fingernails on a woman, with her nails reaching about 42 feet (13 meters) in total. She hasn’t cut her nails in 27 years, and her story has touched many people. Today, Diana continues to share her journey, explaining the personal reasons behind growing her nails and the challenges that come with them. Her record has brought her a lot of attention, and she’s using it to inspire others with her unique story.
So, what led to this extraordinary situation?
This Minneapolis woman has officially claimed the title for the longest fingernails ever recorded on a female, according to an announcement from Guinness. Armstrong is now recognized in two categories: “longest fingernails on a pair of hands (female)” and “longest fingernails on a pair of hands ever (female).”
Her remarkable extreme nails measure a staggering 42 ft 10.4 in (1,306.58 cm) — equivalent to the height of LeBron James six times over, with a bit more than two feet to spare. For context, the NBA star stands at 6 feet 9 inches tall.
Notably, her right thumbnail stands out as the longest, stretching 4 ft 6.7 in (138.94 cm), while her shortest nail, the left pinky, measures a respectable 3 ft 7 in (109.2 cm).
From a young age, the Texan had a passion for nails and nail art. She fondly recalls moments spent asking her mother to measure her nails and wondering if she could paint them in vibrant colors. “I’ve always had long nails, but not to this extent. Even when I was little, I always had longer fingernails. My mom always grew her nails, so I always had nails like my mom,” shared Armstrong.
However, it was a heartbreaking family tragedy that propelled her towards this world record.
The story took a tragic turn in 1997 when Armstrong faced the heart-wrenching loss of her 16-year-old daughter. It began as an ordinary day. She asked her children to get up before heading to the grocery store.
While shopping, she received a distressing call from her other daughter. “Ma, Tisha won’t wake up,” she reported, sending Armstrong racing home, only to discover that her daughter, Latisha, had tragically passed away in her sleep from an asthma attack. “That was the worst day of my life,” she recalled.
The day before her death, Latisha had polished her mother’s nails, and Armstrong simply couldn’t bring herself to trim them after that. “She was the only one who did my nails. She polished them and filed them for me,” she shared, revealing that she struggled with depression for nearly a decade following Latisha’s death.
“Every time I look at my nails I think of my daughter. I think she’s my guardian angel,” she added.
How she manages daily life with extremely long nails.
Ayanna faced daily challenges with her extraordinarily long nails, finding some activities nearly impossible, like washing dishes and making the bed. “I have to be very, very careful with my movements,” she explained. “I’m always mentally preparing for the next step to ensure I don’t hurt myself or break my nails. But I’m excited about cutting them because I’m looking forward to new beginnings.”
Ayanna experienced a range of reactions from those who noticed her nails in public, most of which were positive and encouraging — especially from children. “I love when kids come up to me and say, ‘Are those your nails?!’ I reply, ‘Yeah,’ and then I ask, ‘How old are you?’ They might say, ‘I’m ten or I’m seven,’ and I say, ‘Guess how old my nails are? They’re 28 years! They’re older than you!’”
What people were saying.
People are divided in opinions. While some were wondering about Diana’s daily life.
- She is unable to use her hands for ANYTHING…think about that.
- That’s insane. How do you wash, eat, go to the bathroom? This should not be encouraged.
- I have millions of question on how she do basic things with her hands like using her phone.
Others were talking about her trauma.
- Tragic she lost her daughter but she really needs therapy for her trauma much more than a world record. © clanbigger4 / YouTube
- You can tell by the way she talks about her daughter that heartbreak is still so raw. I’m glad she found a way to be close to her daughter still. © ScootyPuffJR42 / YouTube
She shared insights into her children’s reactions to her long nails.
At first, they were puzzled by her decision to grow them out, but when they learned it was in memory of their sibling, they embraced it.
Armstrong explained, “My kids never knew why I was growing them. I didn’t tell anybody. I kept it to myself until I finally told them why I was growing them. And they were like, ‘Why didn’t you tell us that?’ because everybody was getting embarrassed about what people were saying. It made them feel bad, so I felt bad, so I just told them: ‘Y’all can tell me to cut my nails, but I just can’t do it.’”
Now, Armstrong’s grandchildren are the ones responsible for maintaining her nails.
Now, Armstrong’s grandchildren are the ones responsible for maintaining her nails, often dedicating up to five hours to filing and polishing them — using as many as 20 bottles of nail polish in a single session.
When she officially received the certificate recognizing her extraordinary achievement, Armstrong was overwhelmed with emotion. “I think Latisha would be proud of me because she’s the last one who did my nails,” she reflected. “That’s who I think of when I grow my nails: my daughter.”
Recently, after almost 30 years she decided to cut her nails.
Ayanna’s delicate nails will now be preserved and displayed at Museum in Orlando, Florida, something she is thrilled about. “It’s going to be awesome. It’s like a wax figure of myself, even though it’s just my nails. I can’t wait to see it; I’ll be grinning from ear to ear. Just think about it — it’s amazing!”
While her journey has certainly been unforgettable, Ayanna looks forward to the future and the legacy her record will create for generations to come, especially for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
What people say now.
- She’s going to live in a whole new different experience once she goes home without her long nails, surely it’s more comfortable than having long ones.
- That had got to have been like carrying weights around all the time, I bet it was a relief to get them off.
There are many Guinness World Records out there, with some being held by ordinary people for their unique appearances, like the most tattooed woman. Others are achieved by famous stars, such as Christina Aguilera, who holds a record for her outstanding career achievements. These records showcase a wide range of talents and traits, from personal style to professional success.
