On October 23, 2025, Jessica “Jess” L. Martinez of New York made global history with a hairstyle so bold that it needed three people to measure. Her afro is officially the largest on a living woman, and the numbers alone say everything. It stands 29 centimeters high, stretches 31 centimeters wide, and reaches a massive 190 centimeters in circumference.
The size is hard to picture until you compare it to the height of the world’s shortest living woman. Martinez’s afro circles her head at nearly triple that height, which gives you a real sense of its scale.
The Guinness World Records adjudicator could not even handle the measurement alone. He needed help on both sides just to wrap the tape measure around her curls.
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The celebration came a few weeks later in November for GWR Day, and it turned into something deeper than a trophy moment. Martinez received her title from the former record holder, Aevin Dugas, who had claimed the spot for 15 years. Their meeting was warm and full of pride. Dugas even brought a glittery crown she had saved from a 2020 photoshoot, ready for the day someone new would step into the role.
The handoff felt like a passing of wisdom. Both women spoke openly about their shared respect and the confidence it takes to show up with natural hair in a world that often misunderstands it. Dugas summed up the heart of that day when she said she hoped people could see the love behind it.
The Journey Behind the Giant Afro
@jesstheblessed / IG / Martinez herself has spent years growing into that confidence. At 29, she already balances roles as a criminal justice advocate and the Founder and CEO of Somebody’s Auntie, a brand built on empowerment.
Her life has never moved in a straight line, and her hair journey reflects that same path. As a child, she and her mother relied on harsh relaxers, which were expensive and painful. Those treatments chipped away at her confidence, and she remembers how heavy that felt.
Jess made her first big change at 12 when she stopped using relaxers. Later in college, she decided to drop hair straightening completely. After a final silk press in 2014, she stared at her reflection and felt something click. She realized her hair did not fit inside a box, and she did not want it to. Her curls had personality, and she wanted to protect that.
Hair as Culture, Power, and Purpose
@jesstheblessed / IG / Now, Martinez uses her platform to spark conversations about culture, identity, and respect.
She often says that natural hair is not a trend, it is a lifestyle. Martinez has seen how stigma shows up in schools, offices, and even casual interactions. Laws like the CROWN Act help, but she argues that the country still needs federal protection so people with natural hair do not face discrimination.
Jess believes that every curl, coil, and kink deserves space and dignity. When she told People magazine that being different is something to celebrate, she meant every word. She hopes young people, especially, can look at their own reflection with pride.
Dugas offered simple but powerful advice: Keep people’s hands out of your head. Not every stylist understands natural Black hair, and trust matters.
The record itself feels like a celebration of identity, but the story behind it gives it weight. Martinez’s afro did not grow into history overnight. It grew through moments of doubt, small victories, and constant learning.
