World tallest woman, Maria Feliciana is dead

The celebrated Maria Feliciana dos Santos, renowned as the ‘Queen of Height’ during the 1960s and holder of a Guinness World Record, has passed away.

Her family confirmed that the basketball player died at the age of 77 in a private hospital after a prolonged battle with pneumonia.

Hailing from Brazil, Santos gained nationwide fame as she underwent a remarkable growth spurt during her late teens, transforming from an average 10-year-old into Brazil’s tallest woman.

Born in Amparo do São Francisco, Santos initially performed in circuses across various cities before winning the prestigious ‘Queen of Height’ contest in the 1960s.

Her legacy was further solidified when she was immortalized during the inauguration of the Estado de Sergipe building, a towering 28-storey skyscraper in Aracaju, which was named the Maria Feliciana building in her honor.

In May 2022, she received recognition from the Museu de Gente Sergipana, with a statue erected in her likeness at the museum’s entrance.

The funeral arrangements for Maria Feliciana are scheduled for this afternoon, following an overnight wake.