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She may have just been crowned the world’s shortest woman but Jyoti Amge has a big ambition – to make it as a Bollywood star.

The Indian student celebrated her 18th birthday today by winning the Guinness World Record title.

The teenager stands at 62.8 centimetres (24.7 inches) tall - seven centimetres (2.76 inches) shorter than the 22-year-old American who had held the title since September.

A special ceremony was held in Jyoti’s home town of Nagpur, in Maharshtra state when Guinness representatives flew in from London to measure her.

A teary-eyed Amge, dressed in one of her finest saris, called the honour an "extra birthday present" and said she felt grateful for being small, as it had brought her recognition.

After receiving a plaque, she and her guests cut a birthday cake.

The title is not Jyoti's first Guinness record - until today she was considered the world's shortest teenager, but qualified for the new title after turning 18.

Guinness says in a statement Jyoti has grown less than one centimetre (0.4 inch) in the last two years and will not grow any taller due to a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.

But the tiny lady isn’t letting her size hold her back from becoming a big name in the world of Bollywood.

The budding actress is set to star in two Bollywood films next year and said: “I want to be an actor.

“I have put Nagpur on the world map. Now everyone will know where it is.

Guinness adjudicator Rob Molloy said: “Jyoti encourages us all to look beyond mere size and to just celebrate our differences.”

Her teenage title brought the chance for multiple Guinness-sponsored trips to Japan and Italy for tours and meetings with other record holders, she said.

The title of shortest woman in history continues to be held by Pauline Musters, who lived in the Netherlands from 1876 to 1895 and stood 61 centimetres (24 inches) tall.