Women’s History Month is an annual celebration in March that highlights the contributions of women to events in history, as well as their outstanding landmark achievements.
At Guinness World Records, we have seen our female record holders reach remarkable milestones, so to mark Women's History Month we're running a series called "HER Story."
We've spoken to some of these women about their records and their lives, to help celebrate their achievements and inspire others.
We continue the series with Chhamji Sherpa, a brave Nepalese woman who became known for her perilous trek up the side of Mount Everest at the age of 16.
Who is Chhamji Sherpa?
On the cusp of her 16th birthday, Chhamji Sherpa decided that she needed to climb to the summit of Mount Everest - an alpine setting that had been the back drop for most of her life. For Chhamji and the rest of the Sherpa people in Tibet the experience she was seeking was more than a lifetime accomplishment; it was spiritual, a deep part of her heritage and beliefs.
Seeing her passion and determination, her father Dendi agreed to guide his daughter up the slippery terrain of Everest – despite the grave risks involved.
Together, the pair became the First father and daughter to summit Everest, with Chhamji being the Youngest female to summit Everest (South Side) the minute she reached the top of the world.
Chhamji’s fight to pursue her dreams show the bravery and courage needed to accomplish some of the greatest achievements – even when you can’t anticipate the outcome.
On becoming a female record holder
"I could not believe it at first when I read my email from a Guinness World Records representative that stated that my two of the records for the Youngest female to summit Everest (South Side) and First father and daughter to summit Everest were approved and my certificates were about to be shipped.
"I actually kept it to myself for many days as I thought that the email was just a spam. But later on, I came to realize it was indeed true.
"It made me so happy that my dream of climbing Everest and representing women in the field of mountaineering had come true."
"I probably am the first female from my country Nepal to hold two Guinness World Records titles. Thinking about it inspires me in my day to day life and makes me realize what happens when dream and hard work come together."
"When I climbed Everest and came back, my cousin (who was 10 years old at that time) was so surprised with what I did that she told me she was going to climb Everest to break my record.
"We all laughed at her novice decision but deep down, it made me realize that my achievements made other women feel empowered to do what they believe in and stand out amongst others.
“My biggest and favourite achievement till date is standing on the top of Everest with my father. It has been a once in a lifetime experience that I would always recall. But I believe living each day and trying to become a better person with all your experiences is an achievement for me.
"Apart from dealing with the physical obstacles during the mountain climbing, I also faced many criticism regarding my young age and being a woman dreaming about climbing Everest."
"Many people laughed at my decision thinking I would never be able to make it to the top, saying it is even tough for strong men to do so. But that is what kept me working towards my dream and prove myself right."
"I am in my undergraduate programme right now, and after graduating, I want to be an entrepreneur and establish my own business. When I am financially able to support myself, I want to be an adventurer and explorer. I want to climb mountains, travel the world and make every day worth of living.
"One thing I realized after my Everest expedition is that, when you focus on the process instead of the outcome, the work you put in has more chances to be successful.
"Outcome is just one part of motivating factor. I climbed Everest because I wanted to stand on the top of the world and view the world from the very highest point. I wanted to feel what my father felt in his previous summit of Everest. I knew that I was going to be the youngest female Everest summiteer from south side if I would make it to the summit. If I succeeded - it would be the icing on the cake - but I focused more on getting to the top than holding the record.
"I know that there are so many women trying to stand out and prove themselves. They just need a little motivation and push. Even for me, my father was always there to push me and support me during my entire Everest expedition."
"It all comes down to believing in yourself and believing you can get there. I want to wish everyone a Happy Women’s History Month on behalf of my record – whoever you are, we all deserve to be on top of the world."
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