One New York native is way ahead of the game after spending four decades growing out her talons.
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LaRue Drummond, better known as Queen, was inspired to grow out her nails as a child.
After spotting a stranger with impressively long nails in the grocery store, Drummond approached her for advice.
Despite struggling with a chronic nail-biting habit at the time, a young Drummond was determined to achieve a similar look.
“When I was young, I would bite my cuticles until they bled. But with determination and the support of my family, I was able to kick the habit,” she explained.
Drummond began meticulously caring for her nails, growing them out and pampering them with regular manicures.
After 40 years and $12,327 in maintenance, Drummond can’t imagine her life without her 22-inch nails.
She even refers to them as her “babies,” with her longest nail named “Miss Attitude.”
Drummond’s saving grace has been her nail tech Maria Ortiz, who she described as “a very important part of my nail-growing journey.
“She takes the designs and colors to another level. She books me for a whole day and ensures I’m her only client as it takes about eight hours,” Drummond revealed.
She dubbed Maria “the Queen Diva of the nail game.”
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Despite the constant upkeep and judgmental looks, Drummond would never consider changing her nails.
“It’s who I am, and I’m not ashamed. If I broke a nail that couldn’t be fixed, I’d feel bereaved,” she said.
The city girl also explained that her nails don’t get in the way of her day-to-day life.
When she’s not busy keeping her nails healthy and hydrated, Drummond works as a child-minder, taking care not to scratch the children.
She has long since adapted to using her phone or tying her shoelaces with long nails and has revealed she wants to keep growing out her nails.
However, the beauty icon has a long way to go to break the world record.
According to the Guinness World Records, a Minnesota woman previously managed to grow her nails to just over 28 feet in length.
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