Towering Above Us All, Marcus Lewis is 7′ Feet Tall!

If you haven’t spotted him already, Marcus Lewis stands above everyone on campus at a height no one can miss — he is 7 feet tall! Her Campus VCU had the pleasure to interview him as a Campus Celebrity this week. We learned about his experience as a young man with a unique height, along with everything that simply makes him a normal, everyday student. 

1. What is your full name?
   Marcus Lewis

2. What grade are you in?
   Sophomore

3. What do you like best about VCU?
   The people. There’s just a whole bunch of interesting people here – they’re quiet, they’re shy, they’re loud – when you walk out your door there’s always a bunch of different people.

4. What is your major?
   Undecided, but it will technically be anthropology as of next semester

5. Is there a particular reason you want to study anthropology?
   I want to be an anthropologists and study human culture, what we do, and how they grow.

6. Around campus we consider you a Celebrity because of you height, would you say that you’re considered a Campus Celebrity yourself?
   No — I am just a regular person that’s taller than average. I know that people might know about me for my height outside of VCU, but I am still just a regular person.

7. How tall are you?
   7 feet exactly.

8. Were you always taller than most of your peers or did you hit a growth spurt out of no where?
   I was usually the tallest kid in my class by a small amount, but once I got into high school I started towering over people. 6 feet in middle school.

9. How did you feel in high school when you started to grow so tall?
   I didn’t really notice it at first, but then people just started asking me about it all the time. I didn’t really notice it for the most part though.

10. How tall are your parents?
    My mom is about 6 feet and my dad is about 5’10 or 5’11.

11. Do you know why you are this tall (inherited)?
    I have morphine syndrome which is an elongation of the arms and legs. I was supposed to be 6’6 at the tallest, but they found out I have morphine syndrome and I grew taller.

12. Have you experienced any problems with bullying as you grew up? 
    My freshman and sophomore year, yeah. I was the tallest person in the school but I didn’t play basketball and everyone said I was tall for nothing. I always played basketball most of my life but I didn’t want to play for a team and ruin what I liked to do for fun. Then my junior and senior year I decided to play basketball because I didn’t have any other extra-curricular activities — I thought it would look good.

13. Do you think your height helps or impedes your ability to make friends?
    It helps. A lot of people come up to me and talk to me. It’s a good way to meet people, break the ice I guess.

14. What is the best part about being taller than most people?
    Never actually having to look at the back of someone’s head in a crowd.

15. What is the worst part about your height?
    Ducking under doors almost every time I walk through a door.

16. Do you get attention everywhere you go?
    Yes unless I am sitting down.

17. What is the rudest thing someone has ever said to you about your height?
    About two years ago a guy said “You shouldn’t actually buy shoes you should just use shoe boxes.” I didn’t say anything but my father yelled at him. I was stunned.

18. Are you popular with the ladies?
    Not really, nah not in the slightest. Most girls find my height nice and intimidating.

19. Is there anything else you hope to be recognized for besides your height on first impression?
    Not really – nah. I guess I’m just a normal person. Maybe what I’m wearing one day. If someone complimented me on what I’m wearing besides my height first.

20. Besides your height what else do you think makes you stand out?
    Nothing – I mean I can do kind of cool things when I stretch, but I don’t usually walk around the streets doing them.