The Padaung Ladies of Inle Lake

The Padaung Tribe originally came from a small region in Myanmar called Loikaw, in Kayah State. The females are often referred to as the “long neck women” and are renowned for adorning layers of brass coils which are ceremoniously wrapped around their necks. Generations ago, the region was inhabited by tigers. Legend says the Padaung ladies wore brass neck coils and even metallic coils around their wastes, not only to symbolize wealth, position & beauty, but as protection against tigers.