Guinness World Records holder celebrates big milestone with college degree

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At just 2 feet, 4 inches tall, Wildine Aumoithe has proven that her stature is not a weakness. The 22-year-old from Miami, Fla., holds the Guinness World Records titles as Shortest Non-Mobile Woman living and Shortest Professional Model and now adds Liberty University graduate to her name.

Aumoithe was born with SADDAN dysplasia, the rarest type of dwarfism characterized by skeletal, neurological, and skin abnormalities. Doctors told her parents at birth that she would not live past 24 hours, but she overcame the odds and graduates this week with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

Due to her condition, along with asthma and diabetes, Aumoithe said she spent much of her childhood in and out of the hospital and was confined to a wheelchair. In high school, she felt a calling to use her disability for good. She was featured in an episode of the documentary “Born Different,” which followed her daily life.

Representatives from Guinness World Records saw the documentary and asked her to apply for the title of Shortest Non-Mobile Woman in 2021. Her recognition led to professional modeling opportunities, including Runway of Dreams: A Fashion Revolution during the 2023 New York Fashion Week. The event was an adaptive runway show that celebrated disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries.

“(That) was an iconic moment for me because I am the first Guinness World Records title holder to appear in New York Fashion Week,” she told Guiness.

Only a week after the fashion show, Guinness World Records contacted her again and asked her to apply for the title of Shortest Professional Model as well. By age 18, Aumoithe was already a two-time record holder.

“I want to show the world that even though I am short, I am able to live my best life, and I can conquer this world even though this world was not built for me,” Aumoithe told Guinness World Records.

Aumoithe transferred to Liberty University Online Programs after the COVID-19 pandemic began. She said she was impressed by Liberty’s graphic design program, and she valued the university’s Christ-centered approach.

“Liberty is a perfect school for me,” she said. “A majority of the classes I took were focused on faith, and having faith in my studies is important to help me stay connected to God.”

“Christ has been there for me pretty much from the moment I was born,” she added. “I was given 24 hours to live, and I defied the odds. I do think that Christ brought me into this world to fulfill a purpose, which is to inspire others.”

Aumoithe said Liberty’s flexible online format worked well with her schedule, which included frequently traveling with Guinness and for modeling opportunities. She currently runs her own freelance creative agency, The Wild Creative Co., and plans to continue her work with it.

In addition to graphic design, she aims to continue inspiring others through her work as a social media influencer, model, and record holder.

“Being a Guinness World Records holder is a big deal for me because it’s not an everyday thing to see someone break a record,” she said. “With the records I hold, I use the titles to showcase that I turned my disability into a historical moment. Height is just a number, not a limit.”