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Sandra Elaine Allen (born June 18, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an American best known as the tallest living woman in the world at 7' 7¼ inches (232 centimetres). She holds this title though it has been widely reported that Yao Defen of China is actually 5 centimetres taller. She has written a book named Cast A Giant Shadow, and has appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records since 1976. Her abnormal height is due to a tumor in her pituitary gland that caused it to release growth hormone uncontrollably. At age 22, she underwent surgery for the condition. Without this she would have continued to grow and suffer further medical problems associated with gigantism. She has appeared in the Academy Award winning Italian film Il Casanova di Federico Fellini, a TV movie called Side Show and in a Canadian/American documentary film called Being Different. The New Zealand band Split Enz immortalized her in a song, "Hello Sandy Allen," released on their 1982 album Time and Tide. She currently lives in Shelbyville, Indiana.
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