In the 19th century, “freak shows” were among the most popular attractions and were regarded as a normal aspect of American civilization.They were essentially traveling circuses with “odd” characters like Siamese twins and hairy women.
One of these “odd” individuals, Mary Ann Bevan, acquired the moniker of “Ugliest Woman in the World,” and her compelling life story and tragic demise underline the need of never forgetting her.
persons have always been interested by persons of other races or physical ability, but regardless of the era we’re discussing, putting them on display in public and making money off of them is wrong.
Audiences flocked to see persons with abnormalities in the 19th century; to do so now would be absurd. From the 1840s to the 1940s, “freak shows” were hugely popular, and exploitation for profit was not regarded as morally wrong.
Thus, it may not come as a huge surprise that Mary Ann Bevan’s story begins during this particular era. Mary Ann Webster was born on December 20, 1874, in Plaistow, East London, the United Kingdom.
During this time, it was common for nearly every working-class household to have a large number of children. Mary Ann Webster was one of eight children, six of whom were brothers, and she experienced a similar upbringing as her siblings.
Her brothers were given employment when they were old enough to help support the family. But Mary Ann had other choices. After completing medical school, the attractive brunette began her career as a nurse in 1894. At this point in her life, she saw a promising future.
She lived in London, was a pretty young lady with delicate features, and had a good education. Due to its strong economy, this city has developed into the center of the modern world.
Mary Ann also fell in love and married Thomas Bevan in 1902. During their marriage, the couple welcomed four children and was delighted to be together. But regrettably, the happy times wouldn’t last forever. After being together for 14 years, Thomas had a stroke and passed away. Mary Ann was concerned because she was left alone with her four children.
Sadly, she was also dealing with other problems. She started having some physical issues soon after she wed Thomas, and as the years passed, they progressively became worse.
Around the age of 32, Mary Ann started showing signs of acromegaly. She must have been shocked when the first symptoms showed, and regrettably, it wasn’t easy to locate assistance for the rare ailment.
At the time, acromegaly was an undiagnosed condition for which there was little medical knowledge regarding a cure. The body overproduces growth hormone in the condition known as acromegaly, which results in increased body tissue and bones. It’s a terrible disease that frequently causes the person who has it to have hands and feet that are three times larger than normal.
Mary Ann Bevan’s condition developed later in life and affected her face, in contrast to how it frequently manifests after puberty. As she battled the sickness, her features got larger and more masculine.
We now know a great deal more about the disease. For instance, we are aware that six out of every 100,000 persons may be impacted. If the issue is identified in a timely manner, it may also be treated. For instance, acromegaly patients today will have a life expectancy comparable to the general population if they receive the proper care from the beginning.
Sadly, Mary Ann Bevan would not benefit from these advances in medicine. Instead, she was significantly negatively affected psychologically and financially by the disease.
When she was married to Thomas, the situation wasn’t too horrible. Although Mary Ann faced some criticism, she was able to find comfort in her spouse and get support from her family.
However, after Thomas’ death, conditions deteriorated and Mary Ann struggled to provide for her children. Her entire body was afflicted by the sickness, which had significantly changed the way she looked. She transformed from a stunning young mother to a depressed, barely identifiable widow in a couple of years.
Because of the alteration in her appearance, no one wanted to hire her anymore. When they saw Mary Ann’s huge face, many of her employers were terrified. They didn’t want a disfigured woman who attracted attention working for them.
Then, one day, Mary Ann read a newspaper ad that would change the course of her life forever. The text of the ad was as follows:
The ugliest woman is wanted. Nothing hideous, mangled, or deformed. For the selected applicant, a good salary and a lengthy engagement are guaranteed. Send a current photo.
The person in charge of the commercial was Claude Bartram. He worked as a representative for the American circus Barnum & Bailey. Mary Ann’s bills and obligations were growing, so she had no alternative but to reply to the ad.
She didn’t do it to become well-known or affluent; it was all about feeding her cherished children. Mary Ann’s primary focus was on being a mother.
After Mary Ann submitted a picture of herself, Bartram got in touch with her. The public eventually became familiar with the photographs of her.
But Bartram noticed more, whereas most people merely saw a terrifying image of a large woman. There were unnoticed characteristics in Mary Ann’s appearance and demeanor.
She wasn’t at all disgusting. She was flawless, healthy, and robust while having a face resembling that of a giant, with a strong, masculine jaw, broad cheekbones, a large nose, and a prominent forehead. She informed me that she disliked the concept of putting herself on display, that she was bashful, and that she did not want to be taken away from her kids, Bartram later recalled.
“I promised her she would make £10 per week for a year, cover travel costs, and keep all the proceeds from the sale of self-portrait postcards so she could pay for her children’s education,” she recalled.
But whereas most people only saw a frightening image of a huge woman, Bartram noticed more. Unnoticed elements could be found in Mary Ann’s demeanor and features.
Mary Ann arrived in New York in 1920 having crossed the Atlantic by boat and was already well-known. During the time that Mary Ann was dubbed “The Ugliest Woman on Earth,” she was pictured on the front cover of almost all New York City newspapers.
Samuel Gumpertz, a successful Missouri showman, controlled the Coney Island Circus, where Mary Ann would go on to become a major sensation.
Mary Ann, the newcomer from England, excelled her circus colleagues in a contest against bearded ladies, conjoined twins, and other people with various physical restrictions, and she eventually became the center of attention.
Some people, however, opposed since it was wrong to use circus artists as props. People were strongly opposed to exploiting the disabilities of freak show performers for profit even in the 19th century. Renowned neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing intervened and ordered them to leave Mary Ann alone.
The unhappy woman whose story is far from amusing sits in the Ringling Brothers sideshow “between Fat Lady and Armless Wonder” and “affects white lace hats, woollen mittens, and high laced shoes.”
He said in a letter to Time magazine that “She, previously a vigorous and good-looking young woman, has become the victim of a disease known as acromegaly.”
However, the general public persisted in attending the circus, and the directors prospered. Unfortunately, Mary Ann had a lot going on in New York. She was forced to adopt a more masculine wardrobe in order to appear less alluring and feminine. She also had to put up with remarks and jokes, which probably affected how valuable she felt.
She was persuaded that it was worthy by a benefit, nevertheless. Mary Ann reportedly earned close to $590,000 while working with the circus, according to The Daily Star. She gained a lot of expertise, but she also become pretty affluent.She even made a robotic offer to sell picture postcards of herself.
Mary Ann used the funds to enroll her four children in an English boarding school. Although Mary Ann was compelled to do it and ultimately did everything she could to provide her children a better future, leaving her children behind on another continent is surely a mother’s worst nightmare.
the act of self-gifting Mary Ann demonstrated what it looks like to give all for the people you love, which is an example of pure beauty.
She went back to France in 1925 to participate in an exhibition, but she lived and worked at the Coney Island Dreamland Show for the remainder of her life in New York.
Mary Ann died in 1933 from natural causes. When Mary Ann passed away at the age of 59, her children honored her request to be buried in her place of origin. She is currently resting in the Ladywell and Brockley Cemeteries in South London.
You may not agree with me, but I respect Mary Ann. Her story shows the unwavering determination she had to support her family. Since there were no benefits like there are now, she was forced to work. She was a loving mother who put the needs of others before her own children.
Mary Ann, may you rest in peace; you deserve it.
