In a city where figures are slim and liposuction is routine, one Los Angeles woman is taking pride in her uniquely large backside.

Mikel Ruffinelli's hips and bottom measure a staggering 8ft around, earning her the record for having the largest hips and in the world.

Yet despite being 5' 4" and weighing 420lbs, Mikel, 39, who features in TLC’s documentary World’s Biggest Hips, insists that she is completely healthy, and says she sees no reason to slim down or shape up 

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Supersized: Mikel Ruffinelli is the owner of the world's largest hips, which measure 8ft around

Supersized: Mikel Ruffinelli is the owner of the world's largest hips, which measure 8ft around

Happy hubby: The record holder's husband, Reggie (right), jokes that he has 'a license to work with heavy equipment'

Happy hubby: The record holder's husband, Reggie (right), jokes that he has 'a license to work with heavy equipment'

'I love my shape and I see no reason to diet because I don’t have health problems,' she says in a clip from the show. 'I love my curves, I love my hips, I love my attributes.'

Though she won't adjust her eating habits, Mikel adds that she does, in fact, exercise, and maintains a 40" waist - which is proportionally smaller than her 99" hips. 

One of her children, however, tells a different story of her mom's health. Her daughter Destynee says that Mikel's life isn't easy because of her oversized figure.

'I don't mind following her footsteps, but I don't really want to because I see how her struggle is,' says Destynee. 'If she stands up for a certain amount of time, she starts to hurt. And it kind of hurts me to see her struggle.'

Mikel also admits that she experiences obstacles in everyday life. She finds it challenging to use the shower, which she has to gingerly step into over the side of the tub while turning her body to fit through the glass door's opening. She can only close the door if she is turned the right way.

She regularly faces negative attention as well, noting that she often sees others whisper, point, and laugh when they see her. People even take photos and record video of her on their phones.

But, she insists, not all of the reactions are critical. Rather, men she encounters seem to prefer her record-breaking size. 

'Men don’t fancy skinny girls, they like an hourglass figure,' she says. 'I think it's very feminine to have curves. It makes us womanly, it makes us beautiful. I rather be this size and happy, with me loving me, than to be skinny, that size, and be unhappy.' 

Her husband, Reggie, agrees. He adds with a wink: 'I tell people all the time: I have a license to work with heavy equipment.'

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Share Daily trials: The Los Angeles woman finds difficulty getting into her family's shower, and can only close the door if she stands at the right angle Daily trials: The Los Angeles woman finds difficulty getting into her family's shower, and can only close the door if she stands at the right angle

Daily trials: The Los Angeles woman finds difficulty getting into her family's shower, and can only close the door if she stands at the right angle

Ignoring nasty people: She also admits that, while her husband likes her behind, strangers sometimes point, laugh, and take pictures of her

Ignoring nasty people: She also admits that, while her husband likes her behind, strangers sometimes point, laugh, and take pictures of her

Something to aspire to: She'd like to measure up to Mikel Ruffinelli's 99" hips

Staying active: The mother of four says she doesn't need to diet, but she does exercise

Head-turning tush: Mikel says she adores her prize-winning posterior - even it it does cause her some issues

Head-turning tush: Mikel says she adores her prize-winning posterior - even it it does cause her some issues

Mikel appears in World's Biggest Hips - which is airing now on TLC - alongside three other women who boast supersized rear ends.

Among them is Las Vegas native Denise Souder, a 56-year-old grandmother with 74" hips who works as a stripper named 'Sweet Cheeks'.

'Only in Vegas could you have a stripper like me,' she says, explaining that she specializes in fetishes like 'squashing' and 'trampling'. 'They come here on their bachelor party, take the blindfold off and I'm standing there with Twinkies in my hand. It's funny!' 

She continues: 'Growing up, I was the chubby girl. I was always the chubbiest girl in the class but I never let it stop me from doing whatever I wanted to do.'

She continues: 'There are challenges - I can't get on a rollercoaster. You learn to get around your hips, you learn to embrace your hips, you learn to shop for your hips.'

Like Mikel, Denise is happy with her large behind, and feels no motivation to lose weight for the sake of others.

'If someone wants to make a comment about my hips or my size, I don't care what your opinion is,' she says.

Making a living: Denise Souder, 56, has turned her curves into cold, hard cash courtesy of online videos and gigs as a stripper and 'fetish provider'

Making a living: Denise Souder, 56, has turned her curves into cold, hard cash courtesy of online videos and gigs as a stripper and 'fetish provider'

Getting routine-ready: Denise, who often performs at bachelor parties, says she makes men think it is funny when she shows up with Twinkies in her hand Getting routine-ready: Denise, who often performs at bachelor parties, says she makes men think it is funny when she shows up with Twinkies in her hand

Getting routine-ready: Denise, who often performs at bachelor parties, says she makes men think it is funny when she shows up with Twinkies in her hand

Limited capabilities: The grandmother faces challenges, which she says include not being able to ride a rollercoaster

Limited capabilities: The grandmother faces challenges, which she says include not being able to ride a rollercoaster

Making a living: Denise Souder, 56, has turned her curves into cold, hard cash courtesy of online videos Making a living: Denise Souder, 56, has turned her curves into cold, hard cash courtesy of online videos

What happens in Vegas: Denise says that 'only in Vegas' could a woman like her earn a living as a stripper 

Family business: Her daughter, known online as Lil' Cheeks, has joined her mother in the video business

Family business: Her daughter, known online as Lil' Cheeks, has joined her mother in the video business

Austrian plus-size model Claudia Floraunce, 40, also stars in the documentary.

Claudia, who moved to Los Angeles from her native Austria at the age of 19, recalls that she gained 175lbs within six months of arriving in the west coast city, and now tips the scales at 300lbs.

'In Austria, it's really rare to have curves,' she says. 'When I go back there, I get stared at. It used to bother me but now I'm like, Why don't you take a picture? It lasts longer.'

Though Claudia doesn't believe it's just her size that turns heads - the model explains that it's because she walks with her head high too.

'I think a lot of people like looking at me because I am a very unique size, very large, but I carry myself with a lot of confidence,' she says.

'I get a lot of people saying, look at those hips, look at those curves, your waist looks so tiny compared to those hips. Curves are in and I am in... finally.'

She also echos Mikel's sentiment that the male population appreciates a woman with extra meat on her bones.

'There's a lot of men who love curves,' she says.

Redefining beauty: Plus-size model Claudia Floraunce, 40, says the criteria for beauty needs an overhaul Redefining beauty: Plus-size model Claudia Floraunce, 40, says the criteria for beauty needs an overhaul

Redefining beauty: Plus-size model Claudia Floraunce, 40, says the criteria for beauty needs an overhaul

Rapid weight gain: After moving from Austria to Los Angeles, Claudia reveals that she put on 175lbs within six months

Rapid weight gain: After moving from Austria to Los Angeles, Claudia reveals that she put on 175lbs within six months

Flaunting her figure: Claudia says that curves are in, and people often say that her waist looks 'so tiny' compared to her hips

Flaunting her figure: Claudia says that curves are in, and people often say that her waist looks 'so tiny' compared to her hips

Claudia Floraunce, 40, went from 8.5 stone to 21 stone in just six months after moving from Austria to Los Angeles as a teenager, and she thinks it's because she's both large and confident

Totally owning it: The Austria native says people stare at her, and she thinks it's because she's both large and confident

Not all of the film's subjects, however, developed their large looks as an adult. Marlena Plummer, a 35-year-old New Yorker with the second largest set of hips on the planet, says she has always been big.

'I always had hips, even as an infant I had hips,' she explains. 'It's just a mystery why I have hips and why I am the shape I am.  

Marlena, whose hips measure 83" around, weighs in at 392lbs and says her physique is all the more surprising because she has a tiny appetite.

'Because of my shape and my size, people assume I eat a lot. I don't.' Nevertheless, she admits that her world-beating hips do cause some problems.

'My hips always affect me when I'm on the train because I have to take up two seats,' she says. 'I do feel bad sometimes when I see a person standing up but I can't help it that I need two seats.' 

Still, those setbacks haven't diminished her self-esteem.

'I love my hips, I love my shape and I love me. I've been a plus size girl all my life and I've never let it stop me doing anything I want,' she says. 

Second place: Marlena Plummer, 35, has the second largest set of hips on the planet, after Mikel

Second place: Marlena Plummer, 35, has the second largest set of hips on the planet, after Mikel

Extra room: Marlena, pictured, says she takes up two seats on the train; she adds that it makes her feel bad when she sees someone standing, but she can't help it

Extra room: Marlena, pictured, says she takes up two seats on the train; she adds that it makes her feel bad when she sees someone standing, but she can't help it

Hippy for life: Unlike the other women featured in the documentary, Marlena has always been larger, and says she has had hips since she was a baby

Hippy for life: Unlike the other women featured in the documentary, Marlena has always been larger, and says she has had hips since she was a baby

Moderate meals: The New Yorker shares that despite assumptions about her eating habits, she actually had a very small appetite Moderate meals: The New Yorker shares that despite assumptions about her eating habits, she actually had a very small appetite

Moderate meals: The New Yorker shares that despite assumptions about her eating habits, she actually had a very small appetite 

While all of the women in the film proclaim to love their bodies, viewers who discussed the show on social media as it premiered were not so accepting.

'Does anyone else find this an absurdly pathetic sign of our times?' asked one Twitter user. 

Another angrily chimed in: 'WHY IS THIS EVEN A SHOW AMERICA WHY [sic].' 

A few, however, did take something positive out of the hour-long special.

'Watching World's Biggest Hips on TLC and suddenly I don't feel so bad about mine,' said one woman.

Another praised their good attitudes, adding: 'Don't want their bodies but would love their confidence.'

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