In London, an afternoon tea gathering brought together the world's tallest and shortest women to commemorate Guinness World Records Day with elegance and charm. Rumeysa Gelgi, towering at an astonishing height of 215.16 centimeters (7 feet 0.7 inches), and Jyoti Amge, the delightful miniature standing at mere 62.8 centimeters (2 feet 0.7 inches), converged at the prestigious Savoy Hotel, as revealed in a Wednesday announcement by Guinness World Records (GWR).
Despite a towering height disparity of a whopping 152.36 centimeters (5 feet) separating them, the duo reportedly forged an instant bond, their camaraderie shining brightly. "We share more than just records; we adore makeup, self-pampering, jewelry, and nail art," Gelgi shared in the statement, her enthusiasm palpable. "Our height difference made eye contact challenging at times, but it added to the fun," she added with a grin.
Amge, equally thrilled, expressed her delight in meeting her fellow record-holder, her joy bubbling over. Gelgi, a Turkish web designer, was officially recognized as the tallest living woman in 2021, her unique stature attributed to Weaver syndrome, an exceedingly rare condition. According to GWR, she is only the 27th person globally to be diagnosed with this syndrome.
The 27-year-old Gelgi also holds the titles for the largest hands on a woman, spanning 24.93 centimeters (9.81 inches), the longest back on a living woman, stretching to 59.90 centimeters (23.58 inches), and the longest ears on a person (female), averaging 9.58 centimeters (3.77 inches). Gelgi's story has been featured in a GWR documentary titled "Rumeysa: Walking Tall," chronicling her journey across the United States, meeting fellow record holders.
Amge, an actress and media personality hailing from India, faces challenges due to achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder impacting her arms and legs. Despite her petite size, she commands a significant presence on social media and has left an indelible mark on television, notably playing Ma Petite in the US series "American Horror Story: Freak Show," officially earning her the distinction of being the shortest actress ever, according to GWR. She has also graced the Italian TV show "Lo Show Dei Record" on numerous occasions.
Craig Glenday, GWR's editor-in-chief, who met with the duo in London, emphasized that the records are about "celebrating our differences." "By bringing these two extraordinary, iconic women together, they can share their unique life perspectives with each other and with us," Glenday remarked in the statement. Both Gelgi and Amge have been honored as GWR ICONS, a newly introduced category for the book's 2025 edition, cementing their places in the annals of history.
