A height-ea! The world’s tallest and shortest women meet for the first time over a cuppa in London… and discover they have a lot in common

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

Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, and Indian actress Jyoti Amge were together during their meeting at The Savoy hotel.

Ms Gelgi joked that at times it was ‘hard for us to make eye contact’ due to their height difference, but said it was ‘fantastic’ 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).

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

She uses a wheelchair and can only stand with a walker for short periods, but refuses to let her physical challenges hold her back.

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

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

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

Jyoti Amge, the shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, the tallest woman, met for tea

Ms. Amge, Craig Glenday, the Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, and Ms. Gelgi

Ms Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, and Indian actress Ms Amge tied the knot

They feature alongside other GWR icons including Diana Armstrong, the woman with the longest fingernails, Sultan Kosen, the world’s tallest man, and disabled strongman Dave Walsh in Guinness World Records 2025.

The pair – who claimed their respective titles in 2021 and 2011 – sipped afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel to celebrate the 20th annual Guinness World Records Day.

Mrs Gelgi said: ‘It was so great to meet Jyoti for the first time.

‘It was hard for us to make eye contact at times because of our height difference, but it was great.

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

Mrs 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 glad I’ve met Rumeysa, she’s so good-natured and I felt very comfortable talking to her.’

GWR Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said: ‘Guinness World Records is about celebrating difference and by bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and with us too.

‘The Guinness World Records icons are the record holders who truly embody the spirit of GWR.

‘They come from all fields, from science and technology, sport and art and media, and are also the dedicated record holders that we see year after year.’