World’s oldest woman smoked and drank wine
A Record-Breaking Life
Jeanne Calment, the longest-lived verified human,
died in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days.
Born in 1875 in Arles, France, her age was confirmed through
extensive records, and Guinness World Records still lists
her as the only person proven to live past 119.
Witness to History
Her life spanned three centuries.
She lived before electricity and cars were common,
survived two World Wars, and witnessed events from
the Eiffel Tower’s construction to the rise of the internet.
Aging Without Slowing Down
Calment rode a bicycle into her 90s, walked
her town at 100, and stayed mentally sharp.
Her habits surprised many: chocolate daily, wine,
and smoking until 117. At 120, she joked,
“I see badly, I hear badly, I can’t feel anything, but everything’s fine.”
The Real Secret
Researchers believe her calm mindset mattered most.
One noted, “I think she was someone who… was immune to stress.”
Calment agreed: “If you can’t do anything about it, don’t worry about it.”
