The story of Mary Ann Bevan, once dubbed «The Ugliest Woman in the World,» begins in the late 19th century, a time when «freak shows» were popular in American culture. These traveling circuses, showcasing individuals with physical disabilities or deformities, were at their peak during this period. While it is now widely unacceptable to treat people with disabilities in a disrespectful manner, back then, it was considered normal to label them as «freaks.»
Born on December 20, 1874, in Plaistow, East London, Mary Ann Bevan had a promising start. She grew up to be a respected nurse and was considered quite attractive, with many suitors. However, her life took a drastic turn after meeting and marrying Thomas Bevan in 1902. Together, they had four children, but their happiness was short-lived. After 14 years of marriage, Thomas passed away, leaving Mary Ann to care for their children alone.
At the age of 32, Mary Ann began to notice strange changes in her appearance. Her face gradually distorted, and she was unsure of what was happening or what caused these changes. Her bones grew larger, and her facial features became unrecognizable, leading her to lose her job and struggle to support her children.
Back in those days, medical science couldn’t diagnose her condition, but Mary Ann was suffering from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder caused by an overproduction of growth hormone in adulthood. Instead of affecting height, it causes the bones in the hands, feet, and face to enlarge.
While modern medicine has better understanding and treatments for this condition, it wasn’t available to Mary Ann. Feeling desperate and unable to support her children, she came across an advertisement that read: «Wanted: Ugliest woman. No maimed or disfigured. Good pay guaranteed. Send recent photograph.»
Despite the degrading nature of the job, Mary Ann, driven by the need to feed her children, responded to the ad. She was contacted by a circus agent named Claude Bartram, who later shared her story with the public.
“She was not repulsive at all,” Bartram recalled. “She had a powerful, masculine jaw and prominent cheekbones, nose, and forehead, but she was healthy and strong. She didn’t like the idea of being put on display, and she was shy, not wanting to be separated from her children. I assured her that she’d earn £10 per week and all expenses, plus money from the sale of picture postcards of herself to support her children’s education.”
Soon, Mary Ann’s photographs appeared in magazines, and she became known as «The Ugliest Woman on Earth.» Her newfound fame led her to the Dreamland Circus at Coney Island, New York, one of the most famous circuses at the time. As she became an attraction, she was noticed by Dr. Harvey Cushing, a renowned neurosurgeon, who identified her condition as acromegaly.
“This woman, who now sits in the sideshow between the ‘Fat Lady’ and the ‘Armless Wonder,’ is a victim of acromegaly,” he wrote to Time magazine, shedding light on her situation and calling attention to her medical condition.
Mary Ann worked at the circus for the rest of her life, earning a decent income, which allowed her to send her children back to England for their education. Despite the hardships, she persevered, all for the sake of her children.
She passed away at 59 from natural causes, and her final wish was to be buried in her homeland. Her children honored her request, and she was laid to rest at the Ladywell and Brockley Cemetery in South London.
Mary Ann Bevan’s story is not just one of hardship; it is a testament to a mother’s love and sacrifice for her children.
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