With a height of just 62.8 cm (2.05 ft), Jyoti currently holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest woman in the world!
Jyoti Amge is originally from Nagpur, a town in the state of Maharashtra, India. Her parents, Ranjana Amge and Kishanji Amge, say that the people in her hometown regard her as a “goddess” because of her unique appearance. At the age of 15, Jyoti held the Guinness World Record as the shortest teenager in the world with a height of 61.95 cm (2 ft). Weighing only 5.4 kg (12 lb), she is just over 4 kg (9 lb) more than her birth weight!
On her 18th birthday, Jyoti Amge was officially recognized by Guinness as the shortest woman in the world. Despite her petite frame, this young woman possesses a strong and vibrant personality. Jyoti’s mother, Ranjana Amge, shared that her daughter’s dream is to become an actress and to be treated normally.
On December 16, 2011, when she turned 18, Jyoti was measured by Dr. Manoj Pahukar at the Wockhardt Super Specialty Hospital in Pune, India, with Guinness World Records adjudicator Rob Malloy present to witness the event. In line with the protocol for all record holders, Jyoti’s measurements were taken at different times throughout the day, as spinal height can fluctuate over 24 hours and yield different results.
Her average height after this procedure was determined to be 62.8 cm (2.07 ft), slightly shorter than the previous record holder, Bridgette Jordan from the USA, who was 69 cm (2.3 ft) tall.
“Sometimes I feel like this world is not meant for me. I am too small, and people don’t even see me. Since I was little, I have not been able to live like a normal person; things are too heavy, and I can’t lift them,” Jyoti shared. Due to her small stature, she cannot go outside alone, as others might accidentally step on her. Basic activities such as opening doors and using the toilet require assistance from family members.
Jyoti’s particularly small size is due to Achondroplasia, a genetic condition affecting approximately 1 in 40,000 births. Everyone has a specific protein in their body known as the fibroblast growth factor receptor. These receptors regulate important processes such as growth and cell differentiation during a person’s development. Achondroplasia affects the functioning of this protein; it slows down bone growth in the cartilage of the growth plates, leading to shorter bones, abnormal bone shapes, and a shorter stature.
Achondroplasia can be inherited from parents. However, 80% of cases result from spontaneous mutations during embryonic development. Prenatal ultrasounds and DNA testing are helpful in detecting this condition. Peter Dinklage, the actor who plays Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, is another notable individual living with Achondroplasia.
As the youngest daughter in a family of five siblings, Jyoti is perhaps the most special, as the others have developed normally. When pregnant with Jyoti, doctors stated that they could not conduct an ultrasound because the baby was too small to see. Ranjana realized something unusual when she did not feel her daughter move in her womb throughout the pregnancy, unlike with her other children.
From a young age, Jyoti dreamed of becoming an actress. As the shortest woman in the world, she has garnered attention for many years. She made her first appearance in a music video at the age of 8, followed by several documentaries about her life.
In 2012, she appeared on Bigg Boss, the Indian version of the reality show Big Brother. However, her major breakthrough came in 2014 when she starred in the anthology series American Horror Story: Freak Show. Her role as Ma Petite earned her the Guinness World Record for the shortest actress in the world. In Milan, Italy, Jyoti appeared on the talent show Lo Show Dei Record.
Jyoti started acting from a young age. She participated in her first music video at the age of 8, and since then, her story has quickly gained public attention. Her fame reached the ears of producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, who later invited Jyoti to join the famous horror series American Horror Story (AHS) Season 4.
Jyoti has also toured around the world, visiting many cities globally. During her travels, she met the shortest man in the world, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, in London. Chandra is 54.6 cm (1.79 ft) tall and was the first adult shorter than Jyoti that she met. Conversely, during her visit to Egypt, she met Sultan Kösen, the tallest living man. With a height of 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in), Sultan is nearly four times Jyoti’s height. With plans to continue her tour in 2024, the shortest woman in the world is making grand plans to ensure she achieves her dreams and enjoys life despite the challenges!
