The world’s smallest woman has revealed what people do ‘wrong’ when talking to her.
Jyoti Amge, from India, is officially the world’s shortest-living woman, and at just 62.8cm she’s even smaller than a toddler.
While she may be small, she’s known for her big and bold personality.
In her 30 years, she’s become a successful actress – starring in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story – and is a reality TV star.
Yet with all the media attention, there have been downsides.
In a candid interview, Amge has revealed how people can treat her poorly when they meet her.
Amge’s journey to becoming a Guinness World Recorder for being the smallest woman began early.
According to Guinness’ official website, Amge was an average-sized child until she turned five, which is when she suddenly stopped growing.
Eventually, she would learn that she has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
Johns Hopkins Medicine says achondroplasia is a genetic condition that ‘leads to shorter bones, abnormally-shaped bones and shorter stature.’
Adult height in people with achondroplasia is typically between 42 and 56 inches – but Amge is just under 25 inches.
Amge was awarded the title of shortest living teenager (female) in 2009, with doctors measuring her to be 61.95cm.
When she turned 18, she took on the title of the shortest-living woman (mobile).
After being recognized as the world’s smallest woman, Amge made viral news again when she met the world’s tallest man, Turkey’s Sultan Kösen, in 2018, as reported by The Independent.
Kösen is 8ft 2.8in and (251 cm) and his unique growth is down to a condition known as ‘pituitary gigantism,’ which is when a tumor on a pituitary gland produces high growth hormone levels, per Cleveland Clinic.
The pair met in Egypt and posed for pictures next to the Great Sphinx of Giza, which also holds a Guinness World Record for being the largest monolithic sculpture in the world.
Amge and Kösen reunited for further photos in 2024, enjoying breakfast in California.
In 2020, Amge made further fans when she starred in the three-part TLC special, World’s Smallest Woman: Meet Jyoti.
In the show’s trailer, the then-26-year-old revealed her thoughts on marriage and said the boys she talks to are ‘all friends [and] if they do seem to act like they’re flirting a little bit, I don’t mind playing along,’ per Entertainment Tonight.
Amge also said she has no plans to start a family and prefers her freedom.
Amge takes it in her stride when her small stature attracts attention.
She told Guinness World Records: “When people see me and recognize me, they all want to take a photograph with me. Everybody stops me wherever I’m walking. That makes me feel really good.”
Yet in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Amge acknowledged the one thing people do ‘wrong’ when they first meet her.
She said: “When people see me on TV, they become very happy because they don’t have to interact with me.
“When they start interacting with me they ask me questions like I’m a baby or treat me like I’m a baby and hold me like I’m a baby, and that’s what they do wrong, really.”
