Mexican woman becomes world’s 'oldest person' at 127
Leandra Becerra Lumbreras is reported to have been born on 31 August 1887
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Mexican woman has become the world’s oldest person as she is celebrating her 127 birthday today, her friends and relatives say. She attributes her long life to eating chocolate, sleeping for days on end and never getting married, her family have said.
The woman, named Leandra Becerra Lumbreras, was reportedly born on 31 August 1887 – the same year as Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
Her relatives told Mexico’s El Horizonte newspaper that she has sadly already seen five of her children and some of her 20 grandchildren die. Her granddaughter, Miriam Alvear, 43 said in El Horizonte: “She is entirely lucid; she blows your mind with stories from the revolution.”
Lumbreras has however lost her birth certificate and so is not officially recognised as the world’s oldest person, who is Misao Okawa, aged 116 from Japan.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments