Guinness World Records celebrated its 20th annual records day by inviting the world’s tallest and shortest women to tea
In a moment where two worlds – or heights – collide, the tallest and shortest women met for the first time, and for afternoon tea in London no less.
In celebration of the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day, the world’s tallest woman and world’s shortest woman met up and realized they ‘do have things in common’ despite a very large difference in height.
Turkish web developer Rumeysa Gelgi, 27, currently stands as the world’s tallest woman measuring a total of 215.16cm (7ft 1in).
She has a rare condition called Weaver syndrome which the Cleveland Clinic explains is a ‘rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth’.
It continues: “Weaver syndrome is a type of genetic disorder. A genetic disorder is a condition that occurs when genes mutate (change).”
The condition has only been identified in around 50 people across the globe and there’s no cure for the syndrome. The most common characteristic is being tall but it affects each person differently.
There’s currently no cure for the syndrome, but people with it can still ‘live healthy lives’.
And 30-year-old Indian actor Jyoti Amge – who starred in American Horror Story – holds the Guinness World Record for being the shortest woman in the world at 62.8cm (2ft 1in).
Amge has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia – ‘a bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism due to a genetic mutation in the arms and legs,’ according to the Cleveland Clinic.
It continues: “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.”
Both Amge and Gelgi met up at The Savoy hotel and have opened up about the experience meeting someone who was so different in height to themselves.
Gelgi noted how ‘amazing’ it was meeting Jyoti for the first time and despite it being ‘difficult’ to ‘make eye contact at times’ because of such a vast difference in height, it was still ‘great’ nonetheless.
And just because the pair differ so much in inches, doesn’t mean they don’t have things in common.
Gelgi added: “We both love make-up, self-care, and doing our nails.”
Amge admitted she’s ‘used to looking up and seeing people taller than’ herself but was ‘so happy to look up’ and ‘see the world’s tallest woman’.
She resolved: “I’m delighted that I’ve met Rumeysa, she is so good-natured, and I felt very comfortable talking to her.”
Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday added: “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.”
