Yu Jianxia, a Chinese woman, is still turning heads with her record-breaking long eyelashes. She first made it into the Guinness World Records in 2016 with a length of 12.4 cm, but by 2021, her longest eyelash had reached an incredible 20.5 cm. Doctors haven’t been able to find a scientific or genetic explanation for this phenomenon—no one else in her family has this trait. She sees her eyelashes as a “spiritual gift.” Even though they’re really long, they don’t really get in the way in her day-to-day life. But she says they’re like her eye makeup, and they make her happy. The record-holder is all about encouraging people to not be shy about their uniqueness, and he’s planning to set new records in the future.
Once again, Guinness World Records has highlighted the unique achievement of Chinese resident Yu Jianxia, who’s held the record for the world’s longest eyelashes for many years. We first documented her achievement on June 28, 2016. At that time, the longest eyelash on the upper lid of her left eye was 12.4 cm long.
But her eyelashes just kept growing, and by May 2021, the record was broken—they measured 20.5 cm!
Yu Jianxia said she first noticed her eyelashes growing strangely back in 2015. Since then, they’ve been getting longer, and there’s no end in sight.
The woman saw doctors to see if they could offer a scientific explanation, but specialists couldn’t figure out what was causing it. We also ruled out a genetic factor—no one else in her family has this trait.
The record-holder herself thinks there might be more to it. She says her eyelashes are a kind of “gift” that she ties to spiritual experiences, especially her extended stays in the mountains.
Even though they’re pretty long, they’re not a hassle in everyday life. She says they even make her makeup routine easier—she barely needs eyeliner or eyeshadow anymore.
“In my day-to-day life, my eyelashes don’t cause any problems. It’s just a lot of fun. Just joy, no worries,” she shared.
Yu Jianxia says she’s proud of her unique feature and wants to encourage others to be unique as well. She also dreams of setting new records in natural beauty categories.