‘World’s tallest woman’ Maria Feliciana dos Santos dies aged 77 after 7ft3 former singer and basketball player shot to fame as ‘Queen of Height’

One of the tallest women in the world, a basketball player who became famous in the 1960s as the ‘Queen of Height’, has died in hospital at the age of 77.

Record-breaking Maria Feliciana dos Santos from Brazil grew to an astonishing height of 2.00 meters in her early twenties.

Relatives of Santos confirmed her death last night, claiming that she died at a private hospital in Aracaju, where she had been since Monday after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

The retiree, who had struggled with health problems for years, became a household name in her native country after going from a normal 10-year-old to Brazil’s tallest woman, with an incredible period of growth during her late teens.

Born in Amparo do São Francisco, Santos toured several cities and performed in circuses before winning the ‘Queen of Height’ competition in the 1960s.

She died on Friday at the age of 77 in a private hospital, her family announced. After her death, the mayor of her hometown of Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira, declared three days of mourning.

A skyscraper in Aracaju, the tallest in the city when it opened in 1970, became commonly known as the Maria Feliciana Building

During her long life, her name was also immortalized when the Estado de Sergipe Building, a 28-story skyscraper in Aracaju that became the city’s tallest when it opened in 1970, became popularly known as the Maria Feliciana Building.

In May 2022, the woman was honored by the Museu de Gente Sergipana with a statue of her at the entrance to the site.

It is believed that Santos was considered the tallest woman in the world for many years before she started shrinking later in life.

Following her sudden death, the mayor of Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira, declared three days of mourning in the capital and paid tribute to the former singer.

‘It was with sadness that I received the news of the death of Maria Feliciana of Sergipe. One of the tallest women in the world [..] “I remember the first time I saw Maria Feliciana, I was just a child,” he recalls.

‘Her presence created a lot of movement. My condolences to family, friends and admirers! May God comfort their hearts.”

Sergipe Governor Fábio Mitidieri also shared his thoughts on the tragic death.

‘It is with regret that I receive the news of the death of Maria Feliciana dos Santos. [..]. Maria Feliciana left a remarkable legacy and her name is immortalized in the largest building in our state,” he said.

‘She took the name Sergipe and our popular culture to Brazil and is represented in the Museu da Gente Sergipana, a space dedicated to our identity. My condolences to family and friends in this moment of pain.”

Senator Laércio Oliveira added: “Maria Feliciana is more than queen, she is one of the symbols of Sergipe’s perseverance.

“She turned her height into a brand that brought 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 achievements on the basketball courts.”

A statue of the Brazilian singer and basketball player was erected outside the Museu de Gente Sergipana

Santos became a draw at shows and circuses during her teens and early twenties, where a singer and radio host who took her under his wing performed.

She put her travels on hold after marrying Assuires Jose dos Santos in 1973, when she was 27.

Santos subsequently had three children, two sons who grew to almost 2 meters tall and a daughter.

For the past fifteen years of her life, she was confined to a wheelchair and confined to her home.

Maria Feliciana’s funeral will take place this afternoon after an overnight wake.

Her father Antonio Tintino da Silva grew to an astonishing height of 2.00 meters and her paternal grandfather was 2.00 meters tall.

Turkey’s Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest woman currently alive, has a height of 2.00 meters.