How bendy Beth became an internet sensation - as a giraffe

The ultra-flexible 20-year-old has become an online phenomenon after a picture of her painted and contorting in the shape of a giraffe went viral as people began sharing the image over the internet.

The classic “double take” picture has had 100,000 hits across the world in three days.

She started doing gymnastics at four and won her first major title aged 12.

The idea for the giraffe image was dreamt up by Beth and her friend Emma Fay, who is a painter who created the amazing body art.

“We just thought one day that it would be cool to paint me as a giraffe, it was a spur-of-the moment thing,” Beth said.

“Then finally two weeks ago we had some time and decided to do it. It took six hours of painting but it was worth it.”

Beth said that although the long limbs of a giraffe are perfectly suited for this stunt, she and Emma have not ruled out similar projects covering the whole range of zoo animals.

Other mock-ups have already seen her painted as a lizard and an Avatar character, and she has also performed as a tiger and other wild animals.

Beth is among just a handful of English-born professional contortionists.

She recently performed at a celebrity-packed party in the Maldives featuring the Beckhams, Gordon Ramsay, Jimmy Carr and other big names.

Beth was born and went to school in Featherstone, near Pontefract, and trained at Wakefield Gymnastics Club.

“My flexibility isn’t all natural, it comes from years of practice,” she said. “I used to train six days a week, before school and after school. I absolutely love it.”

She will now be performing in festivals throughout the summer, starting at the Glastonbury Festival in June.