Mikel Ruffinelli has become a global sensation — not for shrinking her figure, but for embracing it. At 42, she proudly holds the world record for the biggest hips, measuring an astonishing eight feet around.

Her story isn’t about hiding. It’s about celebration. Appearing in the TLC documentary World’s Biggest Hips, Mikel declared: “I’d rather be this size and happy, loving me, than be skinny and miserable.”

Her husband, Reggie, agrees — often with humor. “I tell people all the time,” he laughs, “I have a license to work with heavy equipment.” Together, they show the world that beauty is not defined by narrow expectations.

Mikel insists her curves are feminine, powerful, and desirable. “Men don’t fancy skinny girls,” she said. “They love an hourglass figure. Curves make us womanly. They make us beautiful.”

Of course, daily life has its challenges. Mikel must shuffle sideways through doorways, struggles with standard showers, and drives a wide truck using a step ladder just to climb inside. Yet none of these obstacles shake her confidence.

She is not alone. Other women featured alongside her share the same pride. Denise, Marlena, and Claudia — with hips measuring between six and seven feet — all agree that their size makes them unique and unforgettable.

Despite arthritis, mobility issues, and the stares of strangers, these women thrive in their confidence. They have turned what others might call flaws into symbols of self-love and resilience.

For Mikel, the message is clear: curves are not a curse, they are a crown. “I’m extreme,” she says. “But I love my hips, I love my body, and I love me.”