The Guinness World Record breaking Maria Feliciana dos Santos who shot to fame as the ‘Queen of Height’ in the 60s is dead.
According to her family, the basketball player died in a private hospital aged 77.
The Brazilian born star, who had been battling pneumonia for years, became a household name in her native country after transforming from a normal 10-year-old to becoming Brazil’s tallest woman with an incredible period of growth during her late teens.
Born in Amparo do São Francisco, Santos toured several cities performing in circuses before winning the ‘Queen of Height’ contest in the 60s.
Santos was also immortalised during the opening of the Estado de Sergipe building, a 28-storey skyscraper in Aracaju which is the highest building was named as the Maria Feliciana building.
Subsequently, in May 2022, she was honoured by the Museu de Gente Sergipana with a statue of her at the entrance to the site.
Maria Feliciana’s funeral is due to take place this afternoon following an overnight wake.