Thursday, March 3, 2011

 Hairiest Girl: Thai girl Supatra Sasuphan sets world record

 BANGKOK, Thailand -- Supatra Sasuphan, 11, has become a hit with schoolpals, despite a genetic condition, the Ambras Syndrome — also known as hypertrichosis or "Werewolf Syndrome" — an extremely rare disease that makes hair grow over her face, back, arms and legs making her to set the world record for the Hairiest Girl.

  Photo: The World's Hairiest Girl, Supatra Sasuphan. (enlarge photo) 

  The Guinness world record for the hairiest teenager is Supatra "Nat" Sasuphan (Thailand) "according to the Ferriman Gallwey method of evaluation of Hirsutism."

  Guinness World Records also recognized The haireist car, which is covered with 100 kg (220.46 lbs) of natural hair. The Fiat 500 is owned by Maria Lucia Mugno (Italy).

   Supatra Sasuphan, 11, suffers from Ambras Syndrome — also known as hypertrichosis or "Werewolf Syndrome" — an extremely rare disease.

   Ambras Syndrome, which is caused by a faulty chromosome, is a genetic condition which causes thick hair to grow all over the body and face.

  Supatra, from Thailand, is one of only 50 sufferers of Ambras Syndrome documented since the Middle Ages. There is no cure for the disease.

  Several rounds of laser treatments have been unsuccessful for Supatra, who hopes one day to be a teacher or doctor and help find a cure for the condition.

   "It [the hair] does sometimes make it difficult to see when it gets long. I hope I will be cured one day," Supatra said.  

   'I'm very used to this condition. I can't feel the hair as it has always been like this. I don't feel anything.

  'It does sometimes make it difficult to see when it gets long.I hope I will be cured one day.' In other ways Supatra is the same as other children her age - she loves swimming, dancing to her favourite music and playing with friends.

  But more than anything, Supatra loves perching in front of the TV at her tiny one-bedroom family home in Pranakom, on the outskirts of Bangkok, to watch cartoons.

  The 11-year-old has been teased her entire life by other kids, who call her "monkey face" and "wolf girl", but they don't any more. Her world record has made her very popular at school.

  Her father Sammrueng, 38, said: 'We found out Supatra's condition when she was born - we did not know before.
  "She gets along with others really well and is very generous. She has a lot of friends."

   'When neighbours first saw Nat they asked what kind of sin I had done. I was very worried about what she would be when she grew up because of other children teasing her,' he said.

   But Supatra's sweet nature quickly won over people in her community.

   Sammrueng, a jewellery maker, said: 'She gets along with others really well and is very generous. She has a lot of friends. 'She is just the same as any other little girl her age. 'But her teeth grow slowly and she can't see very well."

   Doctors tried to remove the hair with laser treatment when she was two-years-old but despite numerous sessions it kept growing back as thickly as before.

   Supatra's hair has got increasingly thicker as she has grown up so her mother has to cut it back regularly for her. She uses baby shampoo to wash her hair as she is allergic to stronger brands.

   Sammrueng said: 'I still hope one day she will be cured. We will do anything we can if it will help her.'

  Related world records:      

  Thursday, March 3, 2011