Twerking World Record: Hundreds of People Gathered in New York Today for a "Record Breaking Booty Shaking"

New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia set the record, along with over 350 twerks, in New York

Miley Cyrus may have anointed herself the queen of twerking (and then promptly decided she's not going to "do that s--t again"), but bounce queen Big Freedia is officially the world record holder.

This afternoon, in Herald Square in Manhattan, N.Y., the New Orleans hip-hop diva broke the record for "Most People Twerking Simultaneously." Or, better put, a "Record Breaking Booty Shaking."

Here are dispatches from the edge that should explain everything you need to know about the momentous occasional:

Big Freedia, who you may know from RuPaul's "Peanut Butter" music video, organized today's (record setting) event. The goal? Gather hundreds of people to twerk, together, for two minutes straight.

Charlie Weisman, the adorable Guinness World Record official wearing the official Guinness World Record sports coat, was in attendance to make sure everyone followed the rules. In short, "no hands on the ground, no hands on your ankles," Big Freedia explained.

In long, as stipulated by Guinness:

1. Body must remain upright, with movement concentrated in hips.
2. Participants can put hands on knees or hips for support.
3. Twerking action cannot come from knees. Hips only!
4. Freestyling or additional choreography not permitted. No hands on the ground, feet in the air, twirling, etc.
5. Twerking action must be synchronized, can be at own pace.
6. All participants must twerk simultaneously for TWO MINUTES when Big Freedia gives the signal.
7. Any performers who do not participate fully for the entire TWO MINUTES will be deducted from the final total.

Twerkers of all ages showed up. From 8-year-olds to 80-year-olds.

"250 participants needed to twerk, simultaneously, using proper technique," the Guinness official announced at the end of the event. "Today, I am happy to announce a new Guinness World Record with a total of 358 participants."

As for what inspired the record setting attempt, Big Freedia told Fuse, "It would open a lot of doors and set history for bounce music and let the world know that we've been twerking for a long time. This is not new at all."

(The event was also filmed for Big Freedia's upcoming Fuse reality series, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce.)

And none for Miley, who was certaintly not invited. Big Freedia finds her twerking "offensive."