Emerald Pellot graduated summa cum laude from New York University with a degree in Writing & Popular Culture. She worked as Senior Editor of College Candy for 2 years, covering feminism, popular culture, and college life before joining LittleThings in 2015. Based in New York City, Emerald covers a wide range of topics from human interest pieces to celebrity news.

Lee Redmond from Salt Lake City, UT, spent 30 years growing her fingernails. The great-grandmother was the Guinness World Record holder for female with the longest fingernails.


The unique and dazzling fingernails grew to a combined length of 28 feet and 4 inches. Although Redmond requires special care for her nails, especially to keep them from furling, she leads a relatively normal life. She can even cut her grandson’s hair with surprising accuracy and drive a car.

However, it would be a car accident that would dethrone her. In 2009, a car accident caused her nails to break off leaving them at a mere 4.5 inches.

“Losing my fingernails has been the most dramatic thing that’s happened in my life.


I think it was my grandson that said, ‘Grandma, they are like your baby; you’ve taken care of them for 30 years and lost them in a second,'” she told The Telegraph. “But then, when you think about it, you know our whole life could end in a second, not just part of the body, but your whole life.”

Redmond has no plans to regrow her nails. She spent three decades growing them out, but in her 70s, she doesn’t she feel she has another three decades. Looking on the bright side of things, Redmond admits it’s easier to function.

”I always did everything with them, but now it’s so much easier to do things. The weight is so different. In fact, my hands seem to fly with the weight gone,” she said.

Redmond isn’t the only Guinness World Record holder with long nails, see the others in the three others in the video below.

Please SHARE if you find Redmond’s choice to be fascinating!

Video Credit: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS at Facebook / Twitter / Website