A woman believed to be the oldest in the world is set to celebrate her upcoming 124th birthday in Brazil, as state officials plan her a party to mark the occasion.
Amantina os Santos Duvirgem, also known as Dona Julia, is said to have been born on June 22, 1900, – exactly six months before the death of Queen Victoria – according to her pension records. This would make her the oldest living person in the world.
Duvirgem, who lives in Serra Gaias, in the state of Parana, reportedly thrives on boiled eggs and Bolo de Polvilho, a traditional local cake made with cassava flour.
Her social worker Helen Cristina Pereira said that she doesn’t have diabetes, headaches or high blood pressure.
‘Dona Julia doesn’t take medicine and she doesn’t have grey hair. And she loves wearing earrings and bracelets’, she said.
Amantina dos Santos Duvirgem, 124, poses at her 123rd birthday party, in Tibagi, Brazil, on Friday, June 16, 2023. The Tibagi City Hall will organize a birthday party again next week to celebrate her 124th birthday
Officials at Tibagi City Hall, in Campos Gerais do Parana, are throwing her a special party on 27th June, a few days after her official date of birth, to celebrate.
Although her age is recognised by the Brazilian government, Dona Julia has been denied a place in Guinness World Records because of a mix-up with her birth certificate.
However, her birthday was confirmed by statements from four people aged more than 70 who had all known her for at least 20 years.
‘Dona Julia is the oldest woman in the world, the only thing missing is recognition from official record channels,’ said the city hall a year ago.
According to Brazilian news outlet Banda B, Duvirgem spent a significant chunk of her life on the streets and was adopted at the age of 100 by a woman named Maria Ednir de Almeida.
Pictured: Amantina dos Santos Duvirgem celebrating her 123rd birthday last year with a cake in Paraba Stae Brazil, at a party organised by the state’s civic officials
She was first issued with a birth certificate when she started collecting her state pension, but her claim is currently not recognised by Guinness World Records. Image shows Duvirgem pictured last year at her 123rd birthday celebrations.
Last year, Duvirgem’s 123rd birthday party was also a big celebration, as Parana State officials threw her another bash, where she was seen eating a slice of cake in the hall of the Chapel of Sao Sebastiao.
The current Guinness World Record holder for the world’s oldest person is American-born Spanish supercentenarian Maria Branyas Morera, who turned 117 on March 4 this year.
Morera was born in San Francisco, United States, in 1907, and moved to Catalonia, Spain, as a child.
She has spent the last 22 years of her life in a nursing home there.
Morera, who has three children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, attributes her old age to ‘order, tranquility’ and ‘staying away from toxic people’.
The current record holder recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person is American-Spanish Branyas Morera (pictured), who turned 116 years old on March 4 this year
Marero, pictured on her wedding day in 1931 aged 24, has survived two world wars, a civil war and two pandemics
And despite her age, she is active on social media, frequently posting on Twitter with the help of her daughter. She is also a keen piano player.
Responding to her record-breaking age, she wrote on the micro-blogging site: ‘Sorry for not responding individually.
‘I am surprised and grateful for the expectation generated by the fact that I am the oldest living person in the world.
‘Thank you very much to everyone for the interest shown, although I have not done any merit. These days have been very overwhelming.’
She added she would not be responding to any more journalist requests for interviews, adding she needed ‘peace and tranquillity’.
Ms Marero survived the Spanish Influenza pandemic, the Spanish Civil War, and both World Wars.
She also fought off Covid-19 just weeks after celebrating her 113th birthday in 2020 – recovering in a matter of day.
The oldest ever certified person was Jeane Calmert, who died in 1997 aged 122 years and 164 days.
