Anastasia Karasova, 5, holds the world record for the child with the longest hair in the world. (Angela Luz via SWNS)
From Talker
A real-life mini-Rapunzel has broken the world record for the longest hair ever recorded by a child, with her flowing locks stretching out to more than one meter (3.2 feet).
Anastasia Karasova, from Coventry, was born with a full head of hair, but as she grew up her parents couldn’t bear to cut it.
The 5-year-old schoolgirl’s hair is now 42 inches (107 cm) long and her mother said her classmates adoringly look at her as a “real living doll.”
Anastasia Karasova with her world record medal. (Angela Luz via SWNS)
His mother, Angela Luz, 36, initially applied to be recognised by Guinness World Records but was rejected because the hair category was only for teenagers and women.
Instead, the mother-of-one applied for the international record book, which confirmed she had beaten the previous record holder, from New Delhi, India, by 20cm.
Anastasia currently holds the record for the longest hair ever recorded by a five-year-old, as well as being the youngest person to have hair of that length.
Angela, from Coventry, said: “My daughter already had very long hair when I gave birth and I thought it was unusual for it to be so long.
“I’m an Orthodox Christian so I cut my children’s hair the first time they go to church and then again when they turn one year old.
“After that she continued to let her hair grow really long and I didn’t want to cut it again, but all of a sudden it just didn’t stop.
“She’s been that way since she was a little girl. I think it’s just genetic.”
Anastasia Karasova as a baby. She was born with a full head of hair. (Angela Luz via SWNS)
From Talker
To ensure the accuracy of her world record attempt, Angela had to submit video and photographs and arrange for a witness to be present during the measurement.
Anastasia, who is non-verbal and autistic, said she has been unable to let go of her medal since officially achieving the record on July 5.
Factory worker Angela added: “They sent me an email confirming it was a record and then the medal and all the other items arrived in the post.”
“I tried to break the Guinness World Records, but I got an email saying that Guinness World Records doesn’t have an age category for that, only teenagers and women.
“They asked a lot of things. They wanted videos and pictures. Then they asked for more and I had to send pictures of my hair curled and straightened,” she said.
“I had a friend come over when I was measuring my hair to check how it was.
(Angela Luz via SWNS)
From Talker
“My hair is 42 inches long, but officially it’s 40 inches because I didn’t straighten it so it’s two inches shorter. It’s still growing, but I’m not sure how much longer it’s gotten.”
“The Olympics were on TV in the summer and she was clapping when the athletes were presented with their medals.
“And then she got her medal. She was so happy, she didn’t want to take it off. She even wanted to sleep with it on.”
“She has lots of friends at school and at her age, they see her as a doll, a real doll, pretty.
(Angela Luz via SWNS)
From Talker
“They say, ‘Mommy, mommy, this is Anastasia, the girl with the long hair,’ and they take care of her.
“I think it’s a gift from God. She has it, so why would I take it away?”
“Every child with special needs is special, and God gives them different talents and blesses them in different ways.”
Asked if she planned to let her daughter continue to grow her hair long, Angela, who lives with her partner Roman Karasov, 29, who works for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Maybe with time, we’ll see.”
“It depends on whether she wants to keep it or cut it.
“If I can cut my hair and donate it to kids who don’t have hair, like cancer patients, I might do that when the time is right. I don’t know at this point.”
