Mary Ann Bevan - The World's Ugliest Woman

#1 Mary Ann Webster Bevan

Every culture and even every generation has different thoughts on what is beautiful and what is a little hard on the eyes. Mary Ann Bevans had the misfortune to be living in a time when people who didn't fit into the stereotypical version of what was considered "beautiful" was nothing to smile about. Mary Ann was one of eight children born to the Websters in London, England in 1874.

#2 She Worked As A Nurse

Growing up was not easy for Mary Ann. She was always a little stone-faced and odd. She took work at a local hospital and studied to become a nurse. She worked hard and one day she met a greengrocer named Thomas Bevan, and they fell in love. Despite her unusual appearance. Soon after, they got married.

#3 She Had Acromegaly

Shortly after getting married, Mary Ann began exhibiting symptoms of acromegaly, a form progressive gigantism that causes abnormal growth and distortion of the facial features, as well as headaches, failing eyesight and joint and muscle pain as well as very thick skin, enlargement of the extremities, and heart disease.

#4 They Raised A Family

Thomas must have loved her very much; he not only stayed with her but subsequently collaborated with her on the inception of four children. The locals began calling her names and making fun of her children because their mother was so despicable looking. Her acromegaly was getting much worse.

#5 She Is Left To Raise Her Children As A Pauper

Thomas died in 1914 leaving her to raise their four children alone. She went back to nursing, but because of her growing facial features and slight blindness, she had to leave the position. She begged on the streets. Despite her suffering with constant headaches, Mary Ann refused to let it slow her down and she continued to work and provide for her family with odd jobs lie sewing and doing laundry for other families.

#6 She Entered A Contest For Cash To Feed Her Children

Being a single mother with medical conditions like Marry Ann had was not easy in the early 1900s. Desperate, Mary Ann entered a contest held by a local freak show that was looking for the "Homeliest Woman" in England. She won. From then on, Mary Ann was known as the "World's Ugliest Woman." It was a humiliating experience, but she was willing to swallow her pride because her family urgently needed the prize money. That title also came with a job for Mary Ann.

#7 She Was Dubbed The Word's Ugliest Woman

In 1920 she was hired by a carnival freak show owner Sam Gumpertz who paraded her around The United Kingdom as "The Ugliest Woman" alive. Eventually, she was sent to New York where she appeared with Coney Island's Dreamland sideshow, as well as with Ringling Brothers circus. She continued to work as a sideshow attraction until her death on December 26, 1933, aged 59. No doubt as a result of her agonizing acromegaly, which by that time was causing her to pass out, because her head was three times its normal size.

#8 Hallmark Creates Card In Her Image

People have never grown sensitive to those with disabilities or abnormalities. Sadly, the world we live in today is even worse when it comes to bullying those who are different from the perceived "normal" that is cast upon us. Even just a few years back, Hallmark Cards created a collection of old time postcards, one of which had a photograph of Mary Ann on it with the caption "The World's Ugliest Woman". A man in Germany recognized the photo and complained to the company, informing them that the woman had suffered from a terrible disease and should be treated with respect. Hallmark quickly recalled the postcards.

#9 A True Beautiful Woman

Mary Ann Bevan proved that true beauty comes from within. Doing whatever it takes to make sure that your loved ones are well cared for, and not letting those around us destroy our own happiness.

Categories

More