Ethel Granger, Owner Of Smallest Waist Ever, Inspires Vogue Italia Cover (PHOTOS)

When we posted the startling image of Stella Tennant on Vogue Italia's September cover, we focused on the model's crazy jewelry, most notably her oversize nose ring.

But all of you, it seems, were focused on something else: her teeny, tiny corseted waist.

"Her waist has been photoshopp­ed into another dimension," commented nermz345. "did you all check out her waist???" asked candyazzbb. "I have bracelets larger than that corset girdle thing," noted mamysmom1.

So we chatted with Vogue Italia to set the record straight. While the cover looks extreme, it is because Tennant is channeling a very specific woman with a very unique look. The cover's inspiration, Ethel Granger, had the smallest waist in (recorded) history, measuring a mere 13 inches. And she didn't come by it naturally.

As Vogue Italia writes, Ethel's waist was due to her husband, William Granger, who was obsessed with the idea of a wasp-waisted woman. Vogue Italia explains:

Before their marriage Ethel was a plain, unsophisticated twenty-three year old girl who wore the shapeless 1920s dresses that William despised. [...] One epochal day, when William put his arm around Ethel’s waist she asked “darling, can you feel any difference?”. He could: a pair of corsets that tied Ethel into 24 inches, more or less her natural waist line. The process of Ethel’s waist modification began. Initially Ethel was satisfied with wearing a corset only during the day, but William convinced her to keep it on while sleeping.

After years of corsets, Ethel finally achieved a Guinness Book of World Records-worthy 13-inch waist, as well as a signature look involving a variety of facial piercings. We have an exclusive pic below, as well as more on Vogue Italia's website.

Check out the real Ethel Granger and Stella Tennant's reenactment below and go to Vogue.it to see more.

Comments

[csing]

02:35 PM on 09/12/2011

Way to extreme...but an interesting idea to a point.

[Goldie Treasure]

10:36 PM on 09/11/2011

All for a man.....tsk tsk

[Nerdiac]

07:56 PM on 09/09/2011

Look at the bright side: she doesn't have to spend a dime on halloween costumes or makeup!

[Mehida-Loco]

09:29 AM on 09/08/2011

Wouldn't it be easier and safer to photoshop the picture instead?

[daniele7ster]

04:08 PM on 09/07/2011

Gross!

[RoughCollie]

10:38 PM on 09/06/2011

Between the 10th century and 1949, nearly 2 billion Chinese women had their feet bound so that these little lilies measured 3 to 3 1/2 inches from toe to heel. Thankfully, the 13 inch wasp waist wasn't as culturally popular in Italy.

[Comeplayinmyreality]

05:12 PM on 09/06/2011

so weird ... my Gma was 4'11 and had a natural 18 in waist line all the way up until her mid sixties which she is about 24 or 25 ins. This is weird and crazy.

[Reggie1950s]

04:54 PM on 09/06/2011

The "sick" part of this is...... that it's all done for some PUTZ!

[Cory111]

09:39 PM on 09/06/2011

I think you need to be a bit more selective regarding your "Muffing" stay away from the fish!!!

[bentenrai]

01:52 PM on 09/06/2011

Talk about bizarre.

[booker52]

01:17 PM on 09/06/2011

Really a gross and disgusting look

[cynicalmatt]

09:09 AM on 09/06/2011

What about her gross man arms?

[Asuigeneris1]

07:42 AM on 09/06/2011

To each their own.

...not my thing though, it would go against my disdain for clothing in general.

[hammhome]

04:40 AM on 09/06/2011

And where exactly are the human organs that are suppose to be geographically located in that area? Why oh why do humans think they can improve on God's creation. Stupid It always ends badly!

[noaxe397]

11:52 PM on 09/05/2011

I think the goal should be the medically proven healthful 2/3rds hip-to-waist ratio.