'I sometimes even forget they're there' (but driving can be a bit of a problem): Singer who hasn't cut her nails for 18 years

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.

Record breaker: Chris Walton's 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

The bizarre nails curl in all directions - yet the mother of five cooks and cleans, and can even play the piano and use a computer.



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.

What big nails you have: The 45-year-old woman stopped cutting her nails 19 years ago and they have grown to a combined length of 20 feet

'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.

Music maker: As a singer popular in Nevada and California, Walton known as The Dutchess, can also play the piano snag-free

'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.

'My daughters don't cater to my needs, I do everything.

'My daughters don't cater to my needs': Chris has strengthened her nails using acrylic and insists that she doesn't need any help with anything

'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.'



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.

Keep going: Chris has only lost a nail once, when she was fixing her engine on the freeway

'I believe we were all put on this earth to be different,' said Chris.

'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?

