Contortionist holds bodyweight with mouth

Contortionist Iona Luvsandorj has smashed an endurance world record by holding her entire bodyweight on her mouth in an arduous backbend.

Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds.

The Marinelli is an inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.

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Iona was born and raised in Mongolia and has over 19 years of experience as a contortionist and has travelled the world performing in over 16 different countries at gala evenings, theatres, cabaret shows and on television.

Iona is implausibly bendy and is also capable of twisted headstands, scales and multiple body folds.

Iona was one of seven children born to a policeman and a nurse. She is currently studying for a law degree at Birbeck College, part of the University of London. She claims she is the only person in the UK who can do the Marinelli bend.