Jessica Martinez sets world record for largest afro
Jessica L. Martinez has officially claimed the Guinness World Records title for the world’s largest afro after her natural hair was measured at more than six feet in circumference, making her only the second person in history to hold the distinction.
The New Yorker, whose tightly coiled afro spans 190 centimetres around, received the record on October 23 after a meticulous measuring process that required three assistants. Her achievement brings an end to a 15-year era dominated by Aevin Dugas of Reserve, Louisiana, whose own record-setting afro had become a global symbol of natural hair pride.
The two women met for the first time in Manhattan during a special Guinness World Records (GWR) Day event, where Dugas formally congratulated her successor. What unfolded inside the New York salon was less a handover ceremony and more a celebration of shared experience, with the pair trading hair-care stories, memories and a few laughs.
“It was never about competition,” Dugas said. “It’s about self-love and encouraging others to embrace themselves.”
Martinez, who lives in Rockland County and works as a criminal justice advocate and content creator, said the record felt surreal when she first heard the news. Though she had long been encouraged by her online supporters to submit her hair for consideration, she did not initially see herself as a contender.
“When I realised I’d actually broken the record, it took a moment to sink in,” she said. “The younger version of me would be so proud.”
Her afro stands 29 centimetres tall and 31 centimetres wide, nearly three times the height of Jyoti Amge of India, the world’s shortest woman living. Martinez said she hopes her record encourages children with textured hair to see beauty in their natural curls.
Dugas’ influence still looms large in the natural hair community. She first set the record in 2010, earning global acclaim and later receiving her official certificate on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome in 2012. In 2025, she was inducted as a Guinness World Records ICON in recognition of her advocacy for self-love and cultural acceptance.
Her own afro measured at 165 centimetres at its largest became a fixture in conversations about representation. Dugas says maintaining hair of that size requires precision, discipline and the right stylist, a lesson she made sure to pass on to Martinez.
“As my mother always told me, ‘don’t let just anyone in your head,’” Dugas said. “Not everyone knows how to treat natural hair.”
Martinez’s path to the record began in childhood, though not always comfortably. She recalled salon visits where stylists struggled with her dense curls, sometimes breaking brushes or insisting her hair required extra relaxer; expenses that strained her family’s finances.
“I was embarrassed,” she said. “It never felt like a welcoming space.”
She abandoned chemical relaxers in middle school but continued straightening her hair into her college years. A 2014 silk press was her breaking point. “I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself,” she said. “There’s nothing flat about me.”
From then on, she embraced her natural curls fully. A transition she described as difficult but empowering. Over time, her hair flourished, and so did her confidence. Her mother, inspired by her daughter, eventually stopped straightening her own hair and began locking it naturally.
Even after deciding to attempt the record, Martinez faced challenges. In February, a stylist cut more hair than expected, nearly eliminating her chance at qualifying. That setback, she said, only made the final achievement feel more meaningful.
“A part of me felt proud because I stuck it out,” she said. “I realised I can do hard things.”
Martinez stresses that caring for hair like hers requires patience, gentle styles and minimal product buildup. She advocates for twists, low-tension looks and routine maintenance. Despite their different journeys, Martinez and Dugas share a common goal: using their visibility to promote natural hair, particularly among young people.
“A lot of people still feel pressured to change their hair for prom, weddings or work,” Martinez said. “I hope people see that natural hair is beautiful and professional.”
Dugas echoed the sentiment, offering one last piece of advice: cherish the moment. “All it takes is one haircut for everything to change,” she said with a laugh. Both women encouraged others to attempt Guinness World Records titles, saying the process is more accessible than many assume.
“I would rather try and fail than not try at all,” Martinez said. “Attempting a record can open a world you never imagined.”
Their meeting closed with an official certification from GWR adjudicator Michael Empric and photographs capturing two generations of record holders seated side by side, united by pride and extraordinary hair. Guinness World Records calls them both “officially amazing,” and for many who celebrate natural hair, the title feels well deserved.
Written by Oral Ofori
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
