Singer Chris Walton is better known by her stage name ‘The Dutchess’ in U.S states Nevada and California.
But her voice is far from the first thing you would notice if you bumped into her in the street.
The 45-year-old grandmother has the world’s longest fingernails. She stopped cutting them 18 years ago, and now her nails have now reached an incredible 20 feet.
The bizarre nails curl in all directions – yet the mother of five cooks and cleans just like any other mum.
Her amazing dedication to her nails has been officially recognised by the 2012 edition of the Guinness Record Book. She painted them a dazzling gold to celebrate.
‘It’s just like growing a long beard, or long hair,’ said Chris.
‘I didn’t grow my nails deliberately – I just stopped getting manicures and started taking care of my nails myself.
‘Instead of clipping them back, I’d fill them in as they grew. I kept living and they kept growing.
‘I think they got this long because I don’t pay attention to them. I sometimes even forget they’re there.’
Chris strengthened her nails using acrylic on the outside and inside of the nails.
This also helps to balance the weight on each hand.
Chris claims to have only lost a nail once, when fixing her car engine on the freeway, and otherwise has no trouble leading a normal life.
‘Other people think I’m very fragile when they first meet me, but they soon see that I can do everything,’ she said.
‘In my next life, I’m going to grow my nails and pretend I can’t do anything for myself so that people will do it all for me.
Music maker: Chris Walton is a singer, she is better known as The Dutchess in Nevada and California
‘My daughters don’t cater to my needs, I do everything.
‘I would never be stupid enough to stop my life so that I could grow my fingernails.
‘I’d rather have the attention for my music.’
What big nails you have: The 45-year-old grandmother stopped cutting her nails 18 years ago and they have grown to 20 feet
Chris is well-known as The Dutchess in California and Nevada – she has been singing and playing her music in this part of south west USA since the age of 14.
She has just released a single called Live And Let Live – which she believes sums up her attitude to life and how being different does not have to push people apart.
‘I believe we were all put on this earth to be different,’ said Chris.
Keep going: Chris has only lost a nail once, when she was fixing her engine on the freeway
‘If people are mean to me, I think that although I can cut my nails off, there are people born different that can’t get away from their difference.
‘Would they tease them too and how would that person cope?
‘We should just live and let live, and be positive.’
Comments