This 47-year-old woman is known in the U.S. by her stage monicker 'The Dutchess'. But it isn't only her singing voice that makes her stand out in the crowd. Chris Walton has the world's longest fingernails after she stopped clipping them back in 1993. Her nails now reach over 20 feet (about 6 meters), a fact that has been recognized by the 2012 edition of the Guinness Records Book.

Walton's nails twist and turn in all directions, but she says this does not affect her everyday life, and she can take care of herself as any other person. The mother of five has no trouble cooking and cleaning, and even playing the piano and using a computer.

Ms. Walton compares her long fingernails to having a long beard or long hair. She admits she didn't start growing them deliberately, just stopped getting manicures and started taking care of her nails herself.

"I think they got this long because I don't pay attention to them. I sometimes even forget they're there," she says.

Ms. Walton strengthened her nails using acrylic on the outside and inside of the nails. This also helps to balance the weight on each hand.

"Other people think I'm very fragile when they first meet me, but they soon see that I can do everything," she says. "In my next life, I'm going to grow my nails and pretend I can't do anything for myself so that people will do it all for me.  My daughters don't cater to my needs, I do everything.

Ms. Walton continues by adding that, to her mind, people are destined to be different on this earth. She says, although she can clip her nails off any time, there are people who cannot get away from their difference. 

"Would they tease them too and how would that person cope? We should just live and let live, and be positive," Ms. Walton advises.