For the first time in history, the shortest man and
woman in the world have met. The shortest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, is
from a remote area of Nepal and stands 21.5 inches tall. Eighteen-year-old
Jyoti Amge hails from Nagpur, India and measures just less than 25 inches tall.
It was a match made in heaven for Guinness World
Records, which arranged the introduction
for a photo shoot to promote the upcoming release of Guinness World Records
2013 on September 13. To provide scale, a record book (12 inches in length)
was placed between Chandra and Jyoti for one of the photos.
“It was an extraordinary moment,” says Marco Frigatti, the official Guinness World Records Adjudicator, who also took part in the photo shoot. “They’re both such incredible individuals. Everyone knew this was a special moment, and the atmosphere was magical.”
A Record-Breaking Birthday
yoti secured the World’s Shortest Woman title simply by reaching womanhood on her 18th birthday in December of last year. She has a condition called achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that affects bone growth and cartilage formation. Achondroplasia is the most common cause of dwarfism.
Jyoti won't grow any taller than her current height. Due to her size, she has her clothes specially made. She sleeps in a tiny bed and uses special plates and cutlery to eat. Jyoti is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a successful actress. She has already starred in a number of Indian films.
“Since being recognized by Guinness World Records, I
have been able to visit lots of different countries,” says Jyoti. “I love
travelling. I have visited Japan and parts of Europe, and now I can’t wait to
visit the UK.”