Romanian Model Flaunts 20-Inch Waist

Romanian model Ioana Spangenberg is the owner of a 20-inch waist that she claims has nothing to do with dieting – rather, the 30-year-old says her figure is all natural.

Dubbed “the Human Hourglass” by The Sun, Spangenberg says she eats three square meals a day and snacks “all the time” on crisps and chocolate. She is 5 foot 6 inches and weighs just 85 pounds, with measurements of 32-20-32. Her waist, The Sun points out, is only 5 inches bigger than a CD. Spangenberg told the newspaper:

“I just have a small stomach. It’s a bit like having a natural gastric band — if I eat too much, I feel sick.”

The model also revealed her self-esteem has suffered throughout her life. She talked of her upbringing in Romania, and revealed that dates were not easy to find:

“When I was 13 my waist was around 15 inches. Someone could put their hands around it, their fingers would touch and they would still have extra room. […] In Romania it is better to be overweight, because that means you are from a wealthy family.

Spangenberg adds that she would dearly love to pile on some pounds, despite finding success online modeling corsets. She blames her inability to gain weight on her “small stomach,” rather than her eating habits:

“I would still like to gain weight so I don’t look so shocking. Now that I live in Germany I can’t get enough pizza or kebabs.”

Radar Online consulted nutritionist Carolyn Scott-Hamilton about Spangenberg, who offered her view on the model’s claims that she ate junk food all day:

“It’s definitely possible that she’s eating junk food every day but it depends how much. It could be a small handful of chocolate and potato chips throughout the day. If she’s eating all that salt and sugar she’s got to have cellulite. She risks having problems with her reproductive system, her digestive tract, as well as onset diabetes because she is eating so much sugar.”