There is a place in Thailand where men are crazy for long-necked women. So to achieve long necks girls from their childhood wear rings (long piece of brass wound in a spiral shape) which helps in increasing the length to a certain extent.
This strange tradition is followed by the Karen tribe of Thailand who believe that large neck is a symbol of beauty and elegance. Women gradually increase the number of coils on their rings to steadily increase the length of their necks.
Coils weighing up to 25 pounds push down the muscles around the collarbone and compress the rib cage – which tends to give the necks a bigger look. These women are also called ‘Giraffe Women’.
However, it is not clear exactly how the tradition of wearing the neck rings came about. Some say that in the past women wore it to protect themselves from tiger attacks.
However, it should be mentioned here that Kayan women are now given a choice as to whether they want to wear the neck rings or not.
PNN/Agencies