Nigerian chef and entrepreneur Hilda Baci has been named one of the latest Guinness World Records (GWR) ICONS, joining a select group of record holders whose achievements have transcended their fields and inspired people around the world.
The announcement was made by Guinness World Records (GWR) on Wednesday as it unveiled its newest class of ICONS, individuals whose record-breaking achievements have left a lasting impact beyond the records themselves.
Baci earned global recognition in May 2023 when she broke the Guinness World Records title for the longest cooking marathon, cooking continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes. The achievement generated widespread attention across social media and inspired a wave of record-breaking attempts in Nigeria and other African countries.
According to Guinness World Records, the influence of Baci’s accomplishment extended far beyond her own record, leading to thousands of applications from aspiring record breakers in the months that followed.
She added a second Guinness World Records title to her name in 2025 after setting the record for the largest serving of jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kilograms.
Reacting to her latest recognition, Baci described the honour as a celebration of perseverance and the power of ambition.
“Being named a Guinness World Records ICON means so much more to me than holding a title. It represents resilience, passion, discipline, and the power of dreaming boldly.”
“What started as a personal challenge became something that inspired millions of people around the world, and that is incredibly humbling. I’m deeply grateful to Guinness World Records for recognising not just the achievement, but the impact and journey behind it,” she said.
Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday, said the ICONS designation is reserved for record holders whose achievements have become part of global culture.
“We’re proud to call these extraordinary individuals GWR ICONS. Here are record holders who’ve transcended their records to become part of global culture. It’s not always about celebrating that single superlative moment. With the ICONS, it’s about recognising and honouring the long-lasting impact these inspirational people leave on the world,” he said.
Other record holders named as Guinness World Records ICONS this year include wrestling star John Cena, Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani, astronaut Christina Koch, South Korean music group BLACKPINK, mountaineer Hari Budha Magar, and Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal.
Guinness World Records describes its ICONS as individuals who have gone beyond setting records to become cultural touchstones, inspiring millions through achievements that push boundaries and create lasting legacies.
The newly announced ICONS will feature in the forthcoming Guinness World Records 2027 edition, scheduled for release on September 10, 2026.