One of the tallest women of the 20th century, Maria Feliciana dos Santos, fondly known as the ‘Queen of Height’, has passed away at the age of 77.
Santos, hailing from Brazil, achieved worldwide recognition for her stature, standing at an astonishing height of 7 feet, 3.8 inches, in her early twenties.
Relatives of Santos confirmed her passing, revealing that she breathed her last in a private hospital in Aracaju, where she had been undergoing treatment for pneumonia since Monday.
Born in Amparo do São Francisco, Santos’ growth spurt during her late teens catapulted her to fame, eventually earning her the title of ‘Queen of Height’ after winning a prestigious contest in the 1960s.
Her legacy endured throughout her life, with the city of Aracaju immortalising her name by dubbing the Estado de Sergipe building, a prominent 28-storey skyscraper, as the Maria Feliciana building.
Additionally, in May 2022, Santos received a special tribute from the Museu de Gente Sergipana, which erected a statue of her at the museum’s entrance.
Following her sudden demise, the mayor of Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira, declared three days of mourning in the capital.