The story of Mary Ann Bevan, considered “The Ugliest Woman in the World,” begins in the 19th century, a dark period in American culture when “freak shows,” traveling circuses that featured people with certain deformities and disabilities, were popular peak of their popularity. Today it is extremely unacceptable to treat people with disabilities with disrespect, but back then no one believed that calling them “freaks” was morally wrong. Mary Ann Bevan was born on December 20, 1874 in Plaistow, East London, United Kingdom. She grew up to be a nurse and was respected by society. In addition, she was a very attractive woman who was offered many opportunities. In 1902, Mary met the love of her life, a man named Thomas Bevan. The two married and had four children together, but their happiness did not last long. After 14 years, Thomas passed away, leaving Mary broken. Her life became difficult when she was left alone to care for and support her children. Unfortunately, around the time Mary turned 32, she began exhibiting strange symptoms. Her face gradually changed, and she did not know what was happening or what caused this change, which affected her both psychologically and financially.
Mary’s bones grew and her face deformed. As a result, she lost her job and could no longer care for her children. No one could diagnose her back then, but this poor woman was suffering from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that develops when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood when there is no change in height. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones of the hands, feet, and face. Today, much more is known about this disease and there are ways to keep it under control, which was not the case when Mary was alive. Broken, unhappy and poor, this woman one day saw an ad that read: “Wanted: Ugliest Woman. Nothing disgusting, mutilated or disfigured. Good pay guaranteed and long employment for successful applicants. Send a recent photo.” As bad as she felt about this “job,” she didn’t see any other way out of her situation. She simply had to do everything she could to feed her children. Above all, she was a mother. Mary responded to the ad, and soon after, she was contacted by the circus’s agent, a man named Claude Bartram, who later shared Mary’s story. “She wasn’t repulsive at all. She had the face normally found on a giant, a strong, masculine jaw, prominent cheekbones, nose, and forehead, but she was flawless, healthy, and strong.
She told me she didn’t like the idea of exhibiting herself, she was shy and didn’t want to be away from her children,” Bartram said, according to the Daily Star. “I told her she would earn £10 a week for a year, travel expenses and all the money from selling picture postcards of herself so she could provide for her children’s education.” In no time, magazines were filled with photos of Mary Ann, and everyone recognized her as “the ugliest woman in the world.” Her popularity brought her to the Dreamland Circus in Coney Island, New York, one of the most famous circuses ever. Mary Ann became an attraction, but then a doctor named Harvey Cushing, a leading neurosurgeon, spotted her and knew there was more to her huge face that he wanted to explore thoroughly. “That unfortunate woman who sits ‘between the Fat Woman and the Armless Wonder’ in Ringling Brothers’ Sideshow and wears ‘white lace hats, wool gloves and high-laced shoes’ has a story that is anything but laughable. “She, once a strong and good-looking young woman, has fallen victim to a disease called acromegaly,” he wrote in a letter to Time magazine.
Mary Ann spent her life in the circus and was reported to have earned a small fortune which enabled her to send her children back to England where they attended boarding schools. She endured a lot, but she did it all for her children. Mary Ann died of natural causes at the age of 59. Her final wish was to be buried in her homeland, England, and her children fulfilled her wish. She rests in Ladywell and Brockley Cemetery in South London. This woman’s sad but fascinating life story speaks more of a mother’s love for her children than anything else. Please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook!