The world’s tallest and shortest women met for the first time in celebration of the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day.
Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old web developer from Turkey, and Jyoti Amge, a 30-year-old Indian actress, shared an afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel in London.
Gelgi, who stands at 7 feet 1 inch (215.16 cm), jokingly remarked that it was “difficult for us to make eye contact at times” due to their height difference, but she expressed how “great” and “amazing” it was to meet Amge, discovering they have much in common.
Amge, who holds the title of the shortest woman at 2 feet 1 inch (62.8 cm), is best known for her role as Ma Petite in the TV series American Horror Story.
Gelgi has Weaver syndrome, a rare condition that causes accelerated growth and skeletal deformities, with her case being the 27th recorded and the first in Turkey. She uses a wheelchair and can only stand with the help of a walker for short periods.
Amge has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.
Both women were honored as Guinness World Records icons in the 70th anniversary edition of the book. They earned their respective records in 2021 and 2011.
Reflecting on their meeting, Gelgi said, “It was amazing meeting Jyoti for the first time. It was difficult to make eye contact at times due to our height difference, but it was wonderful. We do have things in common; we both love make-up, self-care, and doing our nails.”
Amge shared, “I’m used to looking up at taller people, but I was so happy to look up today and see the world’s tallest woman. I’m delighted to have met Rumeysa—she is so kind, and I felt very comfortable talking to her.”
Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, Craig Glenday, remarked, “Guinness World Records celebrates differences, and by bringing together these two iconic women, they can share their unique perspectives on life with each other and with us. The Guinness World Records icons represent the spirit of GWR, coming from various fields including science, technology, sports, arts, and media.”
