Smallest waistline in the world

London: A 70-year-old grandmother has secured a place in the new edition of Guinness Book of Records for having the smallest waistline in the world – just 15 inches.

Cathie Jung’s astonishing midriff is not a result of malnutrition or disorder, rather, her 39-15-39 figure is a product of spending the last 25 years laced into tight corsets, which are removed, only when Cathie showers.

“The first time I ever wore a custom-made corset was on my wedding day in 1959, when I was 22. I always liked corsets. When I watched films like Gone With The Wind and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers I just loved the women’s figures,” The Sun quoted her, as saying.

“Later, my husband and I developed an interest in Victorian clothing. When I was 45 I decided to start doing ‘tight lacing’ and wearing a corset all the time. My three children were grown-up so I decided to go for it. I thought it would be a good way to feel elegant and sexy,” she added.

Cathie, from Manteo, North Carolina, feels that while her corsets confine her waist they don’t act as an obstruction in her daily chores.

“I do everything that I want to do. I eat fairly small meals but I prefer that at my age anyway. I find it tricky sitting in low chairs and sometimes in restaurants I have to sit on the high chairs at the bar,” she said. “I even have a special swimming costume with a corset sewn in it, so I can still go to the beach. And I am still able to do housework — unfortunately!” she added.

Cathie said that her husband Bob, who is an orthopaedic surgeon, believes that her unique look is not harmful at all.

“Bob has carried out X-rays on me and says the corset actually helps support my spine. Everything in the midriff is flexible,” she said.

Cathie revealed that she spends between 100-500 pounds on each handmade corset and owns more than 100.

“My husband made a cast of my body, so my favourite corset-makers in England and Amsterdam have patterns of my measurements,” she said.