Eugenia Martínez Vallejo

Eugenia Martínez Vallejo (1674–1699) was a Spanish court jester. She gained notoriety for her large size and weight, now thought to be the result of Prader–Willi syndrome.

Biography Vallejo was born in the small village of Merindad de Montija, Burgos, Spain in 1674, to Antonia de la Bodega and José Martínez Vallejo. Her parents were poor, and her mother gave birth to her at church after her water broke during Mass.

As an infant, Vallejo had a decent appetite, and any initial weight gain was thought to have been a good sign. Both medical and aesthetic standards of the age considered slightly heavier frames on women to be preferable. By the time she was a year old she had already reached 25 kg (55 lbs). The paintings are titled The Monster - Dressed and The Monster - Nude, respectively.

Within the court she fulfilled the functions of a jester, her appearance serving as a source of shock and amusement. Despite her presence at court there are no records of financial accommodation given to her, and so it is likely that she was brought in only during certain events as entertainment.