Maria Feliciana dos Santos grew to the astonishing height of 7 feet 3.8 inches in her early twenties – snatching the world record, before shrinking as she got older.

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For many years, she held the the title of the world’s tallest woman.

Turkey’s Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest woman living right now, has a height of 7 feet 0.71 inches.

Relatives of Maria Feliciana, a former singer and basketball player, confirmed overnight she had died yesterday at a private hospital in Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe state on Brazil’s northeast coast.

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

The Estado de Sergipe building, a 28-storey skyscraper in Aracaju which became the highest in the city when it opened in 1970, is popularly known as the Maria Feliciana building.

Her father Antonio Tintino da Silva grew to the astonishing height of 2.40 metres (7ft 8.7 in) and her paternal grandfather was 2.30 metres (7ft 5.4in) tall.

She regularly features in online top tens of the world’s tallest women ever.

She became an attraction during her teens and early twenties at shows and circuses where a singer and radio presenter who took her under his wing performed.

She became a national celebrity after being awarded the title of Rainha da Altura, Queen of Height in English, on a popular Brazilian TV programme when she was 18.

A statue of her with the award went on show in a museum in her home state in 2022.

She put her travelling on hold after marrying Assuires Jose dos Santos in 1973 when she was 27. She went on to have three children with him, two sons who grew to nearly 7ft and a daughter.

For the past 15 years of her life she was in a wheelchair and largely house-bound.

Maria Feliciana’s funeral is due to take place this afternoon following an overnight wake.

Aracaju’s mayor Edvaldo Nogueira decreed three days of mourning as news of her death emerged.

He said overnight: “I received the news of that Maria Feliciana had passed away with sadness. One of the tallest women in the world.

“I remember the first time I saw her when I was still a child. It was in Pao de Acucar where I was born. Her presence caused quite a star.

“My condolences to her family, friends and admirers. May God comfort their hearts.”

Fabio Mitidieri, governor of the state of Sergipe, added: “I am saddened to learn of the death of Maria Feliciana dos Santos.

“She left a remarkable legacy, with her name eternalised on the highest building in our state.

“She put Sergipe and our culture on the national and international map.”

One of the many well-wishers who wrote tributes posted on her Instagram site said: “Rest in peace Maria Feliciana.

“My condolences to all your family and friends. You were an icon who represented our city and state.”

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