Sydney Smith: LA’s Giraffe Woman

LA's “Giraffe Woman” Sydney Smith Photo: ghgossip

Sydney Smith is the “Giraffe Woman” of LA. She wore metal rings around her neck for five years to try and become more like her favourite animal: the giraffe.

Who is the Giraffe Woman

A Kayan woman from Myanmar proudly displaying her neck rings. Photo: Sinchi Foundation

Sydney Smith, a 30-year-old woman from Los Angeles, California, who refers to herself as "the giraffe woman," aspired to gain global recognition for her long neck.

She became fascinated by the Kayan people, a tribe residing in the Southeast Asian hinterland, who are recognized for their abnormally long necks.

Sydney was inspired to have her own set of neck rings created and spent almost five years gradually adding more rings in an effort to lower her collarbone, following the Kayan people's example.

Why did the Giraffe Woman remove her neck rings?

A video about Sydney Smith, LA’s Giraffe Woman

Sydney eventually gave up on her dream of having a long neck, as the rings prevented her from functioning normally in daily life. She claimed that they ruined her ability to work and that she could only live a life of isolation without leaving the house or driving.

When she removed the necklace, she experienced significant bruising around her collarbone and her neck felt weak, comparing it to "arms on a toothpick." However, Sydney is recovering faster than the doctors had expected, and she does not regret her attempt to lengthen her neck.

Sydney now receives physical treatment a few times each week to reduce the stiffness caused by the weight of the rings.

Now, Sydney has removed all of the neck jewelry and prioritized her health concerns, including becoming a mother. Despite no longer wearing the rings, she is still known as the Giraffe Woman.

If you enjoyed learning about the Giraffe Woman you might be interested in learning about Minnesota’s Woolly Girl or the tragic death of Nikki Catsouras.