The life of 'The ugliest woman in the world,' Mary Ann Bevan, begins in the 19th century, during a dark era of American society when traveling circuses showcasing individuals with certain infirmities and deformities were very popular.
No one thought it was inappropriate to call individuals with disabilities "freaks" back when it was common practice; now, however, such kind of behavior is completely unacceptable.
Mary Ann Bevan came into this world in Plaistow, East London, UK, on December 20, 1874. As she matured, she gained the respect of her community as a nurse. Plus, she was a really beautiful lady who had a lot of opportunities presented to her.
It was in 1902 when Mary found her soulmate, Thomas Bevan. Despite being married and having four kids together, their joy was short-lived. Thomas died after 14 years, and Mary was devastated.
She had a tough time of it since she was left to fend for her kids on her own.
Unfortunately, Mary began to have unusual symptoms about the time she reached 32. She was emotionally and financially affected as her face began to alter over time, and she had no idea what was causing it. Bones enlarged and deformities manifested on Mary's face. Consequently, she was unable to support her children financially and lost her work.
Even though no one could put a finger on it when she was younger, this unfortunate lady had acromegaly, a hormonal illness caused by an excess of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland in adults, when there is no longer any noticeable change in their height. The only bones that get larger are those in the face, hands, and feet.
Unlike when Mary lived, there is a lot more we know about this illness and techniques to regulate it today.
"Wanted: Ugliest woman." One day, this devastated, destitute woman spotted the post and felt compelled to respond. Nothing hideous, injured, or deformed. Guaranteed good income and long-term employment for the right candidate. Forward an up-to-date picture.
She felt trapped in her "job" and couldn't see a way out, no matter how bad it became. If she wanted to feed her children, she had to do anything. Being a mother was her first priority.
After Mary responded to the post, Claude Bartram, the circus's representative, got in touch with her and told her her tale.
She was really unattractive. She was tall, robust, and beautiful, with the features of a giant: a strong jaw, broad cheekbones, nose, and forehead. Bartram told the Daily Star that the woman expressed her dislike of being on display, her shyness, and the thought of being away from her children.
"So she could pay for her children's schooling, I told her she could make £10 weekly for a year, cover her travel costs, and keep all the money from selling picture postcards of herself."