At a unique gathering in London, the tallest and shortest women in the world met for the first time over afternoon tea.
This meeting marked the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day, bringing together the world’s tallest and shortest women who found they ‘do have things in common’ despite their significant height difference.
Rumeysa Gelgi, a Turkish web developer aged 27, holds the title of the world’s tallest woman at 215.16 cm (7ft 1in).
Gelgi has Weaver syndrome, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a ‘rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth’.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Weaver syndrome is a type of genetic disorder. A genetic disorder is a condition that occurs when genes mutate (change).”
This syndrome is exceedingly rare, identified in only about 50 individuals worldwide, and there is no cure. The most typical feature is considerable height, though it affects individuals differently.
While there’s no cure, those with the condition can ‘live healthy lives’.
Jyoti Amge, an Indian actor known for her role in American Horror Story, is the shortest woman in the world at 62.8 cm (2ft 1in).
Amge has achondroplasia, described by the Cleveland Clinic as ‘a bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism due to a genetic mutation in the arms and legs.’
The Clinic adds, “Achondroplasia is the most common form of short stature (adults less than 4-ft. 10-in. in height). Almost all children with achondroplasia are able to live full and healthy lives after diagnosis.”
The meeting took place at The Savoy hotel, where both women shared their reflections on meeting someone so different in stature.
Gelgi remarked on how ‘amazing’ it was to meet Jyoti, acknowledging that while it was ‘difficult’ to ‘make eye contact at times’ due to their height difference, the encounter was still ‘great’.
Despite their height differences, they discovered shared interests.
Gelgi commented: “We both love make-up, self-care, and doing our nails.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DNJa5yMy84
Amge shared that she often looks up to see people taller than herself but was ‘so happy to look up’ and see the world’s tallest woman.
She concluded: “I’m delighted that I’ve met Rumeysa, she is so good-natured, and I felt very comfortable talking to her.”
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, stated: “Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences, and by bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and also with us.”
“The Guinness World Records icons are those record holders who truly embody the spirit of GWR. They come from all areas, from science and technology, sports and the arts and media, and are also those dedicated record holders who we see year after year.”