Asha Mandela

Mrs Mandela, who is happily married to her third husband, was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She began growing her hair 25 years ago following a 'spiritual calling'.
Her mother did not want her to because she thought it would make her daughter more likely to start smoking cannabis. She even carried on growing her hair while undergoing chemotherapy. Eventually a friend suggested she speak to Guinness and in 2009 they crowned her with the title of world's longest dreadlocks. They officially measured 19ft 6in but an unofficial measurement this week put one strand of her hair at an incredible 55ft 7in long - almost three times the official length. Hairdresser Angela Davis of Natural Hair and Holistics who helps style Asha's hair on special occasions. She said: 'I was amazed when she first walked through the door. My first thought was - 'God, how much am I gonna have to charge her. Now I see it as an honour to work with someone with so much hair and to be able to do something good with it.'