After 12 years of holding the cheeky, but certainly acclaimed Guinness World Record for “Most People Wearing Underwear on Their Head,” Naperville has been usurped by St. Louis.
An unmentionable loss in a clash of unmentionables.
But alas, dynasties — even the tighty-whities kind — rise and fall.
Thursday afternoon, 355 people packed into City Museum in downtown St. Louis and for one official minute stood together with white underwear doubling as hats. The crowd surpassed Naperville’s record of 270.
Naperville snagged the recognition in 2012 at a book signing event outside of Anderson’s Bookshop for “Captain Underpants” author Dav Pilkey. The event celebrated the release of the ninth book in the popular children’s series, “Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers.”
But Thursday’s showing in St. Louis proved Missourians are fierce competitors in matters of jockeys and pride.
Katy Enrique, director of sales and marketing for City Museum, promised their world record bid was nothing personal.
“Records are made to be broken,” she said.
City Museum hosted the record attempt in honor of a civic pride day in St. Louis Thursday known as 314 Day. Held annually on March 14 and a testament to local area code, the holiday celebrates all things St. Louis, Enrique said.
The inspiration for tackling Naperville’s “Most People Wearing Underwear on Their Head” record was twofold.
For the past few months, City Museum has featured an exhibit called, “The Science of Guinness World Records.” While hosting the exhibit, it was decided the perfect time was perfect to try and break a world record. But which category screamed St. Louis? Therein lies the deciding factor.
The museum is home to the world’s largest underwear, according to Enrique, which made the record too difficult to resist.
“It just happened to be a perfect, quirky opportunity,” she said.
Speaking to their success, Enrique said, “We are just thrilled. It’s a weird, wonderful record for us to achieve.”
To Naperville, she assured the city has still made its mark on underpants history.
“We all have our moments of shining glory,” she said.
The cotton torch has merely passed on to City Museum.
