“Erin Honeycutt, 38, setting a record of 11.8 inches (30cm) long beard because she has polycystic ovarian syndrome,” said Guinness officials.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that causes hormonal imbalance and can lead to excess hair growth. In Honeycutt’s case, this hormonal change allows her to set the world’s longest beard record without taking any hormones or supplements.

When she became 13, she used all ways to keep beard control, but despite using all hair-removing products she was unable to tame her bear growing, a Guinness news release said. “I was probably shaving at least three times a day,” Honeycutt was quoted as saying by the organisation.

Honeycutt maintained that lifestyle throughout her teens and adulthood but she lost vision and was “tired of shaving” so she began growing her beard out at the suggestion of her wife Jen.

She secured this record on February 8, 2023, in Caro, Michigan, by leaving 75-year-old Vivan Wheeler behind in the race for long female beard. Wheeler’s beard had checked in at 10.04 inches (25.5cm).

Honeycutt was not only facing polycystic ovarian syndrome but she had the lower half of one leg amputated after she was suffering from a bacterial infection during a hospital stay to treat a foot injury.

According to Guinness’s article, she had since also suffered an eye stroke triggered by high blood pressure. She said: “But I have perfect peripheral vision.”

She added that she staved off negative feelings about her medical problems because she had “maintained a positive outlook on life” during trouble. She said doctors told her that she would heal three per cent more quickly if she stuck with positive thinking.

“The thing that got me through losing a leg and eye and everything honestly— was that I had a cruise book,” Honeycutt said.