BEST BAR NUN
Blind nun, 118, becomes oldest person alive after death of Japanese woman – and vows to beat 122-year-old record holder
A BLIND nun, 118, has become the oldest person alive after the death of a Japanese woman - and she vows to beat the 122-year-old record holder.
Lucile Randon, known as Sister Andre, was given with the title after the previous holder passed away this week.
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Sister Andre, who lives in a nursing home in Toulon, France, is said to be "happy" with the news.
"She likes very much this attention," said a care home staffer David Tavella.
"But it's just another step, because her real goal is to overtake Jeanne Calment."
Calment is a French woman who died aged 122 in 1997 - which means Sister Andre has another four reach to reach her goal.
MORE ON GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
Sister Andre was born on February 11, 1904 and lived through several major global events like the Great Depression and both world wars.
Jiroemon Kimura is the world's olest man. He died aged 116 in June 2013.
Despite her age, the French woman did not become the world's oldest person until Kane Tanaka passed away on April 19.
Tanaka - who beat cancer and spent her life eating sweets and drinking cola - died in her nursing home aged 119.
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According to a tweet posted by Tanaka's family on April 13, the centenarian had been "hospitalized and discharged repeatedly".
Before her death, Tanaka said in a tweet posted by her family: "I was able to come this far with the support of many people. I hope you will continue to have fun, [and be] cheerful and energetic."
In her younger years Sister Andre worked as a governess in Paris before taking her religious vows with the Daughters of Charity.
Her steely age got the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron, who sent her a hand written letter on New Year's - one of many letters and boxes of chocolate she received from well-wishers.
In an AFP interview for her 118th birthday, Sister Andre said: "I was always admired for my wisdom and intelligence, but now people could care less because I'm stubborn.
"I'm thinking of getting out of this business but they won't let me."
The oldest woman in the UK was Charlotte Hughes, who died aged 115 and 228 days on March 17, 1993 and Henry Allingham was the eldest man.
He was a First World War veteran and died aged 113 and 42 days in July 2009.
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