One of the tallest women in the world, a basketball player who rose to fame as the ‘Queen of Heights’ in the 1960s, has died in hospital at the age of 77.
Record-breaking Maria Feliciana dos Santos from Brazil grew to a staggering height of 7 feet 3.8 inches in her early twenties.
Santos’ relatives confirmed her death overnight, stating that she died in a private hospital in Aracaju, where she had been hospitalized since Monday after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
The pensioner, who had been battling health problems for years, became a household name in her home country after transforming from a normal 10-year-old girl to becoming Brazil’s tallest woman with an incredible growth spurt. during his adolescence.
Born in Amparo do São Francisco, Santos toured several cities performing in circuses before winning the ‘Reina de Altura’ competition in the 1960s.
Maria Feliciana dos Santos, from Brazil, was considered one of the tallest women in the world, standing at a staggering 7 feet 3 inches.
He died in a private hospital on Friday, aged 77, his family revealed. After his death, the mayor of his hometown, Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira, decreed three days of mourning
A skyscraper in Aracaju, which was the tallest in the city when it opened in 1970, became widely known as the María Feliciana building.
Throughout his long life, his name was also immortalized when the Sergipe State building, a 28-story skyscraper in Aracaju that became the tallest in the city when it opened in 1970, became popularly known as Maria Feliciana.
In May 2022, the woman was honored by the Museum of Sergipana People with a statue of her at the entrance to the facility.
For many years it is believed that Santos was considered the tallest woman in the world before she began to shrink in her old age.
After her sudden death, the mayor of Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira, decreed three days of mourning in the capital and paid tribute to the former singer.
‘It is with sadness that I received the news of the death of María Feliciana de Sergipe. One of the tallest women in the world (..) I remember the first time I saw María Feliciana, she was still a child,’ she recalled.
‘His presence caused a lot of movement. My deepest condolences to family, friends and fans! May God comfort his hearts.’
The governor of Sergipe, Fábio Mitidieri, also shared his thoughts on the tragic death.
‘I sadly receive the news of the death of María Feliciana dos Santos. (…). “María Feliciana left a notable legacy by having her name immortalized in the largest building in our state,” she stated.
‘She brought the name of Sergipe and our popular culture to Brazil and is represented in the Museu da Gente Sergipana, a space dedicated to our identity. My deepest condolences to family and friends at this time of pain.’
Senator Laércio Oliveira added: ‘More than queen, María Feliciana is one of the symbols of Sergipe’s perseverance.
‘A brand took off that took the name of our state to Brazil and other countries. A woman who will be missed, but always remembered for her affectionate nickname, the name of our tallest building and her performance on the basketball courts.
A statue of the Brazilian singer and basketball player was installed in front of the Sergipana People Museum
Santos became an attraction during her teens and early twenties at shows and circuses, where a singer and radio host performed who took her under his wing.
She put her travels on hold after marrying Assuires José dos Santos in 1973, when she was 27 years old.
Santos then had three children with him, two sons who grew almost 7 feet and a daughter.
For the last 15 years of her life she was in a wheelchair and practically confined to the house.
María Feliciana’s funeral will take place this afternoon after a night wake.
His father Antonio Tintino da Silva grew to the astonishing height of 7 feet 8.7 inches and his paternal grandfather stood at 7 feet 5.4 inches.
Turkey’s Rumeysa Gelgi, the tallest woman in the world at the moment, stands at 7 feet 0.71 inches.