Miranda Worby, a 42-year-old artist from Lowestoft, Suffolk, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for possessing the largest collection of My Little Pony memorabilia. Her collection, which has grown to an estimated 7,700 items, is valued at approximately $53,894.
Worby's passion for the colorful toy ponies began in childhood. Her first pony, Snowflake, was acquired when she was three years old, sparking an obsession that has continued for decades. What started as a desire to collect the ponies from her own childhood expanded over time, with birthday and Christmas presents, as well as pocket money, being dedicated to purchasing more items.
By the age of 15, Worby was already utilizing platforms like eBay to find missing pieces and items available internationally. The release of new iterations of the toys, such as "Generation Three" in the early 2000s and "Generation Four" in 2010, further fueled her collecting habit. The sheer volume of her collection eventually necessitated the purchase of a new house, where a dedicated "pony room" was established, in addition to a separate storage unit.
Worby describes herself as a "perfectly imperfect collector," indicating that she does not prioritize keeping items in their original packaging. She actively seeks out second-hand additions and focuses on the items themselves, regardless of minor imperfections. This approach allows her to maximize display space. Her collection includes a rare "Fireball" pony, believed to be one of only two in existence, which she found for a minimal cost at a car boot sale.
Among her prized possessions is an amusement ride, originally from Weymouth Pier in the early 1990s. This three-foot-tall arcade attraction was acquired via eBay for $539, requiring the removal of a front door for transport. Worby successfully repaired the non-operational ride by contacting its original maker.
Her dedication to her collection involves regular cleaning, using dish soap to maintain the plastic and brushing the ponies' hair. The collection has also been recognized in broader cultural contexts, notably being featured in the "Come As You Are" exhibition in London, which highlighted various hobbies across the United Kingdom. Worby emphasizes that toy collecting is not solely a childhood pursuit and highlights the welcoming and supportive nature of the collecting community.