Tiny Jyoti Amge has two reasons to celebrate her 18th birthday – the obvious one, and that she’s now due to be declared world’s shortest woman by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Amge measured in at 62.8 centimetres (24.7 inches) tall – seven centimetres (2.76 inches) shorter than the 22-year-old American Bridgette Jordan, who had held the title since September.
It’s not Amge’s first Guinness record. Until today she was considered the world’s shortest teenager, but in turning 18 qualified for the new title.
A teary-eyed Amge, dressed in one of her finest saris, called the honour an ‘extra birthday present’ and said she felt grateful for being small, as it had brought her recognition.
After receiving a plaque, she and her guests cut a birthday cake.
Amge said: ‘I have put Nagpur on the world map. Now everyone will know where it is.’
She dreams of one day becoming a Bollywood film star as well as pursuing a university degree after she finishes high school this year.
‘I want to be an actor,’ she said.
Guinness says in a statement Amge has grown less than one centimetre (0.4 inch) in the last two years and will grow no more due to a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
The title of shortest woman in history continues to be held by Pauline Musters, who lived in the Netherlands from 1876 to 1895 and stood 61 centimeters (24 inches) tall.
