Photo credit: Jess Martinez/Instagram
Jess Martinez she secured a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the woman with the world’s largest afro, earning the title after her hair was measured at 29cm high, 31cm wide and an impressive 190cm in circumference. The New York-based advocate and content creator said the moment didn’t seem real at first, but it soon became one she’ll never forget.
Jess is only the second woman to ever hold this title Aevin Dugaswho first set record 2010 and became a Guinness Book of Records ICON 2025 for her work around body positivity and natural hair acceptance. With this new recognition, Jess now joins a legacy of women whose hair journeys have shaped global conversations about culture, identity and representation.
Away from the spotlight, Jess works as a criminal justice advocate and runs her own brand, Somebody’s Auntie. For years, people in her online community urged her to submit her afro style for a shoot, eventually convincing her to give it a go—though measuring each curl required precision, patience and multiple hands.
Her relationship with hair was not always easy. Growing up, styling her natural curls was overwhelming, and visits to the salon often left her discouraged. Jess recalled how relaxers were used to make it easier to style her hair, only to further damage her hair and affect her confidence.
Over time, she returned to her natural texture and slowly saw her curls come back to life. As her hair flourished, so did her sense of self, and eventually her mother switched to locs after witnessing Jess embrace her own hair journey. That transformation brought her to this turning point.
Speaking of accomplishment, Jess he said“When I found out I broke the record, I was actually in shock because it hadn’t completely sunk in yet… To see someone like me, with hair like this, in the Guinness Book of Records is just amazing.”
She added, “Part of me was also proud of myself for being able to do hard things… And so the fact that I got through it… makes me feel like I can do anything.”
Jess shared the news on Instagram, calling her afro style a symbol of her commitment to being herself without compromise. She also hopes her win will inspire others to confidently embrace their natural hair, challenge stereotypes and continue to fight against hair discrimination.
