# Madge Bester

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**Madge Bester** (26 April 1963 – 19 March 2018) was a former world's shortest living woman.[1] From [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), in 1991 she measured 65 cm (2 ft 1.5 inches) in height. Bester had [osteogenesis imperfecta](/source/Osteogenesis_imperfecta), which is characterized by brittle [bones](/source/Bone), and used a wheelchair.[2]

She was a campaigner for [disability rights](/source/Disability_rights), holding a 1998 press conference on the issue accompanied by [Lin Yih-Chih](/source/Lin_Yih-Chih), the former world's smallest man.[3]

Bester lived in a retirement village in [Bloemfontein](/source/Bloemfontein). Her mother Winnie, who died in 2001, also had osteogenesis imperfecta and measured only 70 cm.[2]

Bester died on 19 March 2018, aged 54.[4][5]

## See also

- [List of the verified shortest people](/source/List_of_the_verified_shortest_people)

## References

1. Murphy, Wendy (2002). [*Orphan Diseases*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yDBTMcITpOgC&pg=PA78). Twenty-First Century Books. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7613-1919-1.

1. Sampson, Lin (2005). [*Now You've Gone 'n Killed Me*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EuCOWY3qKN0C&pg=PA41). Oshun. pp. 40–44. ISBN 978-1-77007-049-3.

1. ["World's shortest man, woman campaign for disabled"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081215161843/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9811/03/fringe/shortest.people/index.html). *CNN News Asia*. Cable News Network. 3 November 1998. Archived from [the original](http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9811/03/fringe/shortest.people/index.html) on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.

1. Rian van Heerden (20 March 2018). [*Worlds former shortest woman, Madge Bester, passes away*](https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/scenic-drive-rian/worlds-former-shortest-woman-passes-away) (Radio broadcast/podcast). Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

1. Narrain, Alzane (20 March 2018). ["Bloemfontein se bekende klein vrou dood"](https://www.netwerk24.com/Nuus/Algemeen/bloemfontein-se-bekende-klein-vrou-dood-20180320) (in Afrikaans). *Netwerk24*. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

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