The officially oldest woman in the world to date was Jeanne Louise Calment from Arles in France. She was born on 21 February 1875 and died on 4 August 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

She was only 1.50 metres tall. In the last years of her life, she was blind, hard of hearing and in a wheelchair, but was mentally fit and in good spirits. At the age of 121, she released her CD "Time's Mistress" or, in the French version, "Maitresse du temps".

Jeanne Calment birth certificate

She is officially listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest living person.

Jeanne Calment at the age of 20

She was a fencer and rode a bicycle until her 100th birthday. However, she was not a health fanatic and smoked until 117. She herself believed that her remarkable health was due to the olive oil she put in all her meals and rubbed on her skin, as well as the daily consumption of port wine and chocolate (about a kilo a week).

Jeanne Calment at the age of 40