Wendy Williams is basically a giant in the world of media, and I don't just mean her personality. For decades, we watched her lean over that famous purple chair, sipping tea and asking the questions nobody else dared to ask. But if you’ve ever seen her standing next to a celebrity guest on the set of The Wendy Williams Show, you probably did a double-take. She towers over almost everyone.
So, let's get into it. Wendy Williams is 5 feet 11 inches tall.
In a world where many celebrities fudge their numbers by an inch or two, Wendy has always been pretty upfront about her height. Honestly, she’s had to be. You can’t really hide being nearly six feet tall, especially when you’re rocking five-inch Christian Louboutins.
Wendy Williams: How Tall is She Really?
Growing up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Wendy wasn't just a "big personality." She was physically a big kid. By the time she was in the sixth grade, she already stood 5'7" and wore a size 11 shoe. Can you imagine? Most eleven-year-olds are still trying to figure out how to walk without tripping, and she was already the height of a grown man.
She’s often talked about how her height made her feel like an outsider as a child. It’s one of the reasons she developed such a sharp tongue—it was a defense mechanism. But as she got older, that height became a signature part of her "Statuesque" brand.
📖 Related: Judge Dana and Keith Cutler: What Most People Get Wrong About TV’s Favorite Legal Couple
On her show, she didn't just stand; she commanded the room. Her height, combined with her wigs and her legendary outfits, made her look like a literal Amazonian queen.
Why Her Height Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we're still talking about her height today. Well, with all the news surrounding her health—specifically her battles with lymphedema, Graves' disease, and frontotemporal dementia—people have noticed her physical presence changing.
Lymphedema, in particular, affects her feet and legs. She’s mentioned in interviews that she only has about "five percent feeling" left in her feet. This makes standing at her full 5'11" height a lot harder than it used to be. When she was spotted out in New York City in late 2025 and early 2026, fans noticed she was leaning on friends or assistants for support.
Even while she's fighting for her freedom from a court-ordered guardianship, her physical stature remains a topic of conversation. A tall woman who once stood so tall is now dealing with the fragility of the human body. It’s a bit of a reality check for all of us.
👉 See also: The Billy Bob Tattoo: What Angelina Jolie Taught Us About Inking Your Ex
How Wendy Compares to Other Celebs
To really understand the scale of 5'11", you have to see her next to other people. Wendy loves being the tallest woman in the room. She once told Conan O'Brien (who is 6'4") that she gets "mad" when she isn't the tallest.
- Compared to Ellen DeGeneres: Ellen is about 5'7". When Wendy visited her, the height difference was startling.
- Compared to Kevin Hunter (Her Ex): Her ex-husband is roughly 6'2". They were a very tall couple, which is probably why their son, Kevin Jr., is also quite a tall guy.
- Compared to Shaq: Okay, obviously Shaquille O'Neal is 7'1", so even Wendy looks "small" next to him. But she’s one of the few women who doesn't look like a toddler standing in his shadow.
The production team on her show actually had to alter her purple chair multiple times. Because her "tall is in her legs" (her words!), they had to raise the chair six inches higher than the manufacturer intended. If the chair was too short, she’d have to tuck her feet under her, which was uncomfortable and looked awkward on camera.
The Shoe Situation
We can't talk about Wendy Williams: how tall she is without talking about the feet. She famously wears a size 11 shoe. Finding cute heels in a size 11 is no joke, though it's gotten easier lately. Throughout the height of her career, she was known for her "shoe cam," showing off the designer heels that added even more height to her frame.
Nowadays, because of the lymphedema, we see her in flats or sneakers much more often. It’s a big shift from the woman who wouldn't be caught dead without a heel. But honestly? At 5'11", she doesn't need the extra inches to be noticed.
✨ Don't miss: Birth Date of Pope Francis: Why Dec 17 Still Matters for the Church
Living Large: The Legacy of a Tall Queen
Wendy’s height was always part of her "Wigs and Heels" persona. It gave her a physical presence that matched her loud, boisterous, and often controversial radio and TV persona. She wasn't just another talking head; she was a force of nature.
While her health has been the headline lately, especially the updates about her dementia and her stay in specialized facilities, that 5'11" frame is still what many people picture when they think of the "Queen of All Media."
If you're looking to understand the physical impact of her height and how it played into her career, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Own your space. Wendy never tried to "shrink" to make others feel comfortable. She stood tall, literally and figuratively.
- Adaptability is key. Whether it was raising her chair or switching to flats when her health required it, she found ways to work with her body.
- Health comes first. No matter how tall or powerful you are, chronic conditions like Graves' and lymphedema require serious attention and lifestyle shifts.
If you’re following her story in 2026, keep an eye on her legal battles regarding her guardianship. Recent medical evaluations have suggested she might be doing better than previously reported, which could mean we see her standing tall on a stage again sooner than we think.
To stay updated on Wendy's journey, follow reputable entertainment news outlets that focus on her legal and health updates rather than just gossip. Understanding the complexities of frontotemporal dementia and lymphedema can also provide better context for why her physical appearance and height may seem to fluctuate in the media today.