At just two years old, Isla McNabb from Crestwood, Kentucky, USA, amazed the world with her incredible talents by becoming the youngest female member of Mensa. Mensa International is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world, open to individuals who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized IQ test.
Isla joined Mensa after scoring in the 99th percentile for her age on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales. Her parents noticed her exceptional focus and intelligence from a young age. At just one-year-old, she was already learning colors, numbers, and the alphabet. By seven months, she could even pick out specific items from picture books.
On her second birthday, Isla received an erasable writing tablet as a gift. To their astonishment, she was able to read the word “red” that her father wrote on the tablet. Isla continued to read words like “blue,” “yellow,” “cat,” and “dog” without hesitation. Her parents also discovered multicolored toy letters placed near objects around the house, spelling out words like “chair” and “sofa.”
Impressed by Isla’s abilities, her parents had her tested. At nearly two-and-a-half years old, Isla scored in the top 1% of the population, earning her membership in Mensa. Despite her young age, a psychologist specialized in gifted children made an exception to test Isla due to her extraordinary talents.
Her parents found that resources for gifted children were scarce, so they enrolled Isla in Mensa to connect with other parents in similar situations. Jason, Isla’s father, emphasizes the importance of the community that Mensa offers.
At three years old, Isla is currently attending preschool, and her parents hope to arrange an individual education plan so she can start kindergarten early. Isla excels in various subjects, but she particularly shines in math and reading. Her knowledge constantly surprises her parents, as she even picks up words by reading and occasionally mispronounces them.
Isla’s curiosity extends beyond academics; she has also shown an interest in American Sign Language, leaving her parents wondering where she learned it. Raising such a bright child comes with its challenges like Isla quickly picking up on spelled-out conversations and struggling to balance her advanced abilities with her age-appropriate behaviors and interactions.
In her free time, Isla enjoys drawing, school, and playing with her cat Booger. She has a love for books, with favorites like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Pete the Cat.” Despite her extraordinary talents, Isla remains unaware of her uniqueness, as she is too young for her friends to notice.
Nevertheless, Isla’s family is incredibly supportive and excited about her achievements. Her parents have provided her with learning gadgets and toys to aid her development. Isla’s father, Jason, is thrilled to see what opportunities lie ahead for his daughter and is proud of her Guinness World Records title for being the youngest Mensa member.
