Rentsenkhorloo “Ren” Bud, from Mongolia, claims to have the longest legs in the world. The 29-year-old’s extraordinary height is genetic; her father stands at 6 feet 10 inches, and her mother measures 6 feet 1 inch.
Towering Ren adores showing off her 52.8-inch legs in high heels but admits that while being able to reach high shelves is a bonus, hitting her head on door frames is an annoyance she could do without.
While she was never bullied at school, coming to terms with her height was a lengthy process. “Even when I was in the first grade I was the same height as my teacher,” she recalled. “I was a little girl and I wanted cute clothes, but you can’t find any.”
“When she was younger she was a little self-conscious,” said Ren’s mother, Kelly. “However, as she got older, she became more confident in herself. She knew she was special and different from other people ... she was more proud.”
Now an adult, Ren occasionally runs into difficulties with her everyday needs. She wears U.S.-size-13 shoes and has struggled to find clothes and shoes that fit since moving to Chicago. The 29-year-old mostly stocks her wardrobe by shopping online.
On the plus side, Ren can help her mother at home by reaching high shelves and often feels like a “superstar” on the streets of Chicago. The 6-foot-9-inch beauty is often approached for photographs and receives many complimentary comments about her unusual stature from passersby.
As such, Ren has grown to embrace her “unique” appearance. “In the last 15 years, I started to like my height and I’m really comfortable with my body and also long legs,” she explained.
In submitting her measurements for official recognition, Maci beat the previous longest-leg record of 52.2 inches, held by Ekaterina Lisina of Russia.
“Many people asked me, ‘Are you a model?’ so I feel great when they ask me that,” Ren explained. She realized her modeling potential and started out working with a brand that makes leggings for tall women.
Ren’s enduring motto is simple: “Being tall is beautiful.”
