Is this the oldest woman EVER? Great-great-great gran reveals longevity secrets as officials verify her jaw-dropping age

A WOMAN who was alive before the Titanic sank and now has six great-great-great-grandchildren has revealed the astonishing secret behind her whopping lifespan. Maria Antonia Cuero Rentería, from Colombia, has been recognised by officials as being 124 years old – with her age now undergoing international verification. The extraordinary gran was honoured by Cali City Council on Saturday Credit: Newsflash Maria Antonia Cuero Rentería, from Colombia, has been recognised by officials as being 124 years old Credit: Newsflash If confirmed, the mother of eight would become the oldest documented person ever, eclipsing both the current world’s oldest living person and the longest verified lifespan on record. The extraordinary gran was honoured by Cali City Council on Saturday during celebrations marking the city’s 490th anniversary. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! She was recognised as a “symbol of the living memory” of Cali and Colombia’s Valle del Cauca region. Maria Antonia, who was born on October 18, 1901, has lived through more than a century of history. Guinness World Records currently recognises Britain’s Ethel Caterham, 116, as the world’s oldest living person. If Maria Antonia’s documents are verified, she would also overtake Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment, who died aged 122 years and 164 days. Maria Antonia’s life has stretched across more than a century of global events, from the era of the Titanic in 1912 and the First World War to the arrival of humans on the Moon. Despite her staggering age, relatives say she still bathes and dresses herself and remains fiercely independent. Most read in The Sun Her daughter Delcy said: “Maria Antonia is a woman who bathes herself, puts on whatever she wants and does not use a diaper.” She added that her mother’s secret to life was “tranquillity”. Maria Antonia, who was born on October 18, 1901, has lived through more than a century of history Credit: Newsflash Top 10 oldest people in history Jeanne Calment Nationality: French Years Lived: 1875 – 1997 Age at Death: 122 years, 164 days Kane Tanaka Nationality: Japanese Years Lived: 1903 – 2022 Age at Death: 119 years, 107 days Sarah Knauss Nationality: American Years Lived: 1880 – 1999 Age at Death: 119 years, 97 days Lucile Randon (Sister André) Nationality: French Years Lived: 1904 – 2023 Age at Death: 118 years, 340 days Nabi Tajima Nationality: Japanese Years Lived: 1900 – 2018 Age at Death: 117 years, 260 days Marie-Louise Meilleur Nationality: Canadian Years Lived: 1880 – 1998 Age at Death: 117 years, 230 days Violet Brown Nationality: Jamaican Years Lived: 1900 – 2017 Age at Death: 117 years, 189 days Maria Branyas Nationality: Spanish (born in the United States) Years Lived: 1907 – 2024 Age at Death: 117 years, 168 days Emma Morano Nationality: Italian Years Lived: 1899 – 2017 Age at Death: 117 years, 137 days Chiyo Miyako Nationality: Japanese Years Lived: 1901 – 2018 Age at Death: 117 years, 81 days Maria Antonia has her own simple formula for longevity. She said: “Laugh a lot and worry little.” The time-defying gran has also credited spending time outdoors, walking instead of sitting, eating fresh fish and staying active through swimming and rowing. Maria Antonia grew up as one of 10 children in the rural Pacific region near Buenaventura, where her family lived off the land and sea, surviving on fresh fish, bananas and plantains they caught or grew themselves. She later worked as a domestic worker in Buenaventura and Cali before raising a sprawling family of her own. But despite favouring a traditional lifestyle, the 124-year-old has also developed an unexpected modern favourite. Councillor Marlon Andres Cubillos Borrero revealed: “She told me that the fish from 100 years ago is not the same as today, that she is tired of frozen fish and can no longer fish, and that now she likes Coca-Cola.” The councillor praised Maria Antonia as a living symbol of the region’s rich history and culture. He said: “We are in the month in which our city has shown that it is possible, after 489 years, to reach 490 years and move forward. “But that progress is only possible together, and my way of wishing Cali a happy birthday is to say: let us recognise women.” He added: “This recognition we are making for Mrs Maria Antonia Cuero is recognising a woman, but also recognising the culture, tradition and history of a woman who today accompanies us with 124 years of life.” Cubillos said the council wanted to celebrate her extraordinary life while she could still enjoy the honour. He said: “This Corporation, the Cali City Council, did not want to make a recognition when Mrs María Antonia is no longer here, but to say thank you for the contribution she has been making and has made during 124 years to Cali, Buenaventura and Valle del Cauca.” He also hailed her astonishing independence, saying: “Before coming here yesterday, she cooked and washed her clothes, because she is still active and complete.” The council described Maria Antonia as a “living bridge between generations” who has lived through wars, pandemics, social upheaval and extraordinary scientific breakthroughs. If her birth records are finally confirmed, the incredible 124-year-old will officially rewrite the history books as the oldest documented person ever.