World’s tallest & shortest women meet for the first time

The world’s tallest and shortest women met for afternoon tea in London in celebration of the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day.

 Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, and Indian actress Jyoti Amge bonded during their meeting at The Savoy hotel. Ms Gelgi joked that it was ‘difficult for us to make eye contact at times’ due to their height difference, but said it was ‘great’ and ‘amazing’ to meet – and discovered they actually have a lot in common.

 Ms Amge, 30, is the shortest woman at 62.8cm (2ft 1in), while Ms Gelgi holds the Guinness World Record (GWR) for being the world’s tallest woman at 215.16cm (7ft 1in). 

 Ms Gelgi has a rare condition called Weaver syndrome which causes accelerated growth and skeletal deformities – hers was only the 27th case ever diagnosed, and the first in Turkey.

Ms Amge, who played Ma Petite in US TV series American Horror Story, has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. 

 The pair have been honoured as Guinness World Record icons in the book’s 70th anniversary edition.

 The pair – who earned their respective titles in 2021 and 2011 – sipped on afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel in celebration of the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day. Ms Gelgi said: ‘It was so amazing meeting Jyoti for the first time.

‘It was difficult for us to make eye contact at times due to our height difference, but it was great. 

 ‘We do have things in common; we both love make-up, self-care, and doing our nails.’ 

 Ms Amge said: ‘I’m used to looking up and seeing people taller than me but I was so happy to look up today and see the world’s tallest woman.

‘I’m delighted that I’ve met Rumeysa, she is so good-natured, and I felt very comfortable talking to her.’ 

 GWR editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said: ‘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.’