Meet the 9 skinniest people in the world and discover their stories, causes, and health conditions
The idea of the skinniest people in the world is not surprising. Many people are constantly chasing the picture-perfect body. To achieve this, some follow strict diets. Others even deny themselves basic nutritional needs to reach their desired weight.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- In some cases, being extremely thin is the result of underlying medical conditions such as metabolic disorders, chronic illnesses, or rare genetic syndromes.
- Diet and lifestyle choices, including extreme dieting or a lack of access to nutritious food, can significantly contribute to severe weight loss.
- Psychological factors like anorexia nervosa, body dysmorphia, and other mental health challenges can also lead to dangerously low body weight.
Top 9 skinniest people in the world as of 2025
In compiling the list of the skinniest people in the world, we reviewed various YouTube features, interviews, and media reports. The individuals are arranged in order of their body weight, from the lightest to the heaviest, based on publicly available information.
While exact figures may vary across sources, we relied on the most consistent and credible details to ensure accuracy.
| Full name | Estimated weight |
| Tom Staniford | 65 kg (143 lb) |
| Valeria Levitin | 64 kg (141 lb) |
| Cathie Jung | 63 kg (139 lb) |
| Dita Von Teese | 52 kg (115 lb) |
| Ann Ward | 44 kg (97 lb) |
| Valeria Lukyanova | 42 kg (93 lb) |
| Michele Korbke | 38 kg (84 lb) |
| Loana Spangenberg | 38 kg (84 lb) |
| Lizzie Velasquez | 27 kgs (60lbs) |
9. Tom Staniford
Source: UGC
- Full name: Tom Staniford
- Date of birth: 1 July 1989
- Age: 36 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, United Kingdom
- Profession: Para-cyclist
- Weight: 65 kg (143 lb)
Tom Staniford is among the top 10 skinniest people in the world. He is a British para-cyclist. He is one of the very few people worldwide diagnosed with a form of Mandibuloacral Dysplasia (MDP) that severely limits subcutaneous fat storage and alters metabolism.
He was diagnosed after years of medical uncertainty and has spoken publicly about how the condition affects his energy, hearing, and joints. At the same time, he still competes at a high level in para-cycling.
Despite the medical challenges, Stanford has built a career and a public platform to raise awareness about this rare syndrome and to connect with others who share it. He continues to write about living with the condition and how it shapes his training and daily life. According to his Substack, he noted:
I am also one of about 16 people worldwide with MDP Syndrome… I won't bore you with full scientific detail here.
8. Valeria Levitin
Source: UGC
- Full name: Valeria Levitin
- Date of birth: 1973
- Age: 52 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Russia
- Profession: Model
- Weight: 64 kg (141 lb)
Valeria Levitin is a model who has publicly discussed extreme weight loss and the long-term consequences of severe dieting. She has positioned herself as a cautionary voice about anorexia and extreme weight control.
Media reports describe her as having endured dangerously low body weight that left lasting health effects and prompted her to warn young women about extreme dieting. Levitin's story is frequently cited in features about the psychological and physical risks of pursuing ultra-thin ideals. She said she gets fan mail from girls who want to be like her. Valeria noted:
I have received emails from young girls who want me to teach them how to be like me. All the letters I've had are from women, mainly in their twenties, who see me as some kind of inspiration. This is why I want to campaign.
7. Cathie Jung
Source: UGC
- Full name: Cathie Jung
- Date of birth: 1937
- Age: 88 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: United States
- Profession: Victorian dress and corset enthusiast
- Weight: 63 kg (139 lb)
Cathie Jung is an American corset enthusiast who has practised tight-lacing for decades and holds recognition for one of the smallest waists recorded, a result of long-term, disciplined corset use rather than an eating disorder.
Jung adopted corseting in young adulthood and continued the practice for years, crediting careful, gradual training and a lifestyle around historical fashion and Victorian aesthetics.
Medical experts often caution about the potential risks of prolonged extreme corseting (organ displacement, breathing restriction). Still, Jung reports she has adapted her lifestyle around the practice and remains an outspoken advocate for corset culture. Explaining why she first got into corsets, Cathie said:
If you're going to wear a Victorian dress and have it look appropriate, you need to wear the right underwear.
6. Dita Von Teese
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Heather Renée Sweet
- Date of birth: 28 September 1972
- Age: 52 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Rochester, Michigan, United States
- Profession: Vedette, burlesque dancer, model, actress, and businesswoman
- Weight: 52 kg (115 lb)
Dita Von Teese is an internationally known burlesque performer, model, and entrepreneur. She is known for her signature retro-glamour look, which includes a slender frame she maintains through careful styling, diet, and fitness choices associated with her stage persona.
Over a long career, she has discussed beauty, glamour, and confidence as conscious parts of her brand and craft, emphasising presentation and self-care rather than extreme weight loss.
Von Teese's public commentary focuses on glamour and personal style as empowerment rather than the exact figure on a scale. She has given several extended interviews about how she constructs her image and the role of vintage fashion in her life. She noted:
I advocate glamour. Every day. Every minute.
5. Ann Ward
Source: UGC
- Full name: Ann Marie Ward
- Date of birth: 20 April 1991
- Age: 34 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Dallas, Texas, United States
- Profession: Model
- Weight: 44 kg (97 lb)
Ann Marie Ward won America's Next Top Model (Cycle 15) and drew attention for her slender figure. After the show, she discussed the modelling industry and her comfort with her body, stressing that personal confidence and health matter more.
Ward later moved away from the spotlight and has given interviews reflecting on the pressures of reality TV and her transition into life beyond competition.
4. Valeria Lukyanova
- Full name: Valeria Valeryevna Lukyanova
- Date of birth: 23 August 1985
- Age: 39 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Tiraspol, Moldova
- Profession: Model
- Weight: 42 kg (93 lb)
Valeria Lukyanova is a Moldovan/Ukrainian model who achieved global notoriety as the "Real-Life Barbie" for her dramatically doll-like makeup, styling, and body proportions.
Beyond her physical presentation, Lukyanova has courted controversy with outspoken, sometimes polarising public statements on social and cultural topics. She once stated:
I'm even flattered! It's what success is like. I'm happy I seem unreal to them; it means I'm doing a good job.
3. Michele Korbke
Source: UGC
- Full name: Michele Berlin Kobke
- Date of birth: 1995
- Age: 30 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Germany
- Weight: 38 kg (84 lb)
Michele Koebke is a Berlin-based tight-lacer who made headlines for reducing her waist to a tiny circumference. Reports put her at about a 16-inch waist by wearing corsets for long hours each day and altering her eating pattern to many small meals.
She has described the corseting process as intense and athletic in its demands, acknowledging breathlessness and the need for careful management of her routine. She noted that she will continue wearing a corset until she has crossed the heralded 15-inch threshold.
I'm not worried about the medical implications. I would reconsider if I thought they were serious or wearing a corset could prove fatal — but, as far as I'm concerned, that's not the case.
2. Loana Spangenberg
Source: UGC
- Full name: Loana Spangenberg
- Date of birth: 1982
- Age: 43 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Romania
- Profession: Model
- Weight: 38 kg (84 lb)
Read also
Your Value Doesn't Decrease Even when Jobless as Long as You Love Yourself, Woman Tells Men
Loana Spangenberg is a Romanian model known as the "Human Hourglass." She is the skinniest person in the world as of 2025, with a tiny waist and a very low body weight, measuring about 38 kg (84 lb) with a 20-inch waist.
In interviews, she said she would like to gain weight to look less shocking. She attributes her figure to a naturally small frame and stomach, not self-starvation. After moving to Germany, she said she tried to eat more, enjoying pizza and kebabs. She also added that people don't believe she eats a full meal daily. She stated:
No one seems to believe it, but every day I eat three big meals and I snack on chocolate and crisps all the time. I just have a small stomach. It's a bit like having a natural gastric band; if I eat too much, I feel sick.
1. Lizzie Velasquez
- Full name: Elizabeth Anne Velásquez
- Date of birth: 13 March 1989
- Age: 36 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Austin, Texas, United States
- Profession: Motivational speaker, activist, writer, and YouTuber
- Weight: 27 kgs (60lbs)
Elizabeth is arguably the skinniest person in the world in 2025. She was born with Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome, a form of Marfanoid progeroid lipodystrophy. The condition prevents her body from storing fat, making it almost impossible to gain weight.
She has shared how she must eat frequently and monitor her nutrition to stay healthy. Instead of focusing on pity, Lizzie turned her experience with bullying into a global anti-bullying mission. She is now a motivational speaker, author, and YouTuber who promotes self-acceptance and resilience.
In interviews, she talks about the daily realities of her condition, including the need for constant medical care. Her work, including TEDx talks and documentaries, spreads a message of empowerment and hope for others facing stigma or rare diseases.
Talking about her weight, she said:
I can't gain weight… As a result, I am skin and bones despite eating around the clock.
Is Lucia Zarate the thinnest person?
According to Guinness World Records, Lucia is considered as the lightest adult in history at just 4.7 kg (10.4 lb). The 19th-century Mexican entertainer had a form of primordial dwarfism.
What country has the skinniest people in the world?
Vietnam is often cited as having one of the lowest average BMIs globally, making its population among the slimmest on average.
Who is the slimmest person in the world?
Lizzie Velásquez is often called the slimmest living adult, weighing about 27 kg (60 lb) due to Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome.
What is the most skinny thing in the world?
In living terms, the record goes to tiny microorganisms like certain bacteria, which are invisible without a microscope, making them far “skinnier” than any human.
With the list of the skinniest people in the world, it is easy to see that sometimes it matters to be comfortable in your skin. Taking extreme measures to get a small body may have irreversible effects. With some unable to control their bodies because of diseases, it is important to take care of yourself.
Tuko.co.ke recently published a list of the richest black men in America. Wealth in America often highlights a stark racial divide. Among billionaires, black individuals remain a small minority, yet several black men have built extraordinary fortunes, amassing billions through talent, innovation, and strategic ventures.
David Steward is the richest black man in America, with a net worth of $11.4 billion. Tech and software investments are common sources of wealth for black billionaires. Athletes and entertainers have successfully transitioned into business to build significant wealth.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over 4 years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Tuko.co.ke in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, Cyprine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Tuko.co.ke, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile at Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
