The world's youngest grandmother, and more

last updated 8 January 2015

The world's youngest grandmother

A 23-year-old Romanian woman has become the world’s youngest grandmother. Rifca Stanescu eloped at age 11 and gave birth to a daughter, Maria, when she was only 12. She urged Maria to stay in school and not follow in her footsteps, but Maria married when she was 10, and had a baby six months later. “I am happy to be a grandmother,” says Rifca, “but wished more for Maria.” Rifca’s mother, who is now a great-grandmother, is 40.

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