Current Date: 07 Oct, 2026
{{entry.title}}

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan, The ‘Ugliest Woman In The World’

After the death of her husband, Mary Ann Bevan had no income to support herself and her children. She then decided to enter a contest where she won the title of “ugliest woman” and was later hired by a circus. She endured this ridicule from the world to provide for her family.

Early in the 20th century, Mary Ann Bevan, a beautiful Englishwoman, was forced to perform in sideshows and circuses in order to support her family after she was diagnosed with acromegaly.

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan The Ugliest Woman In The World 1
Mary Ann Bevan, known as the “Ugliest Woman in the World,” regularly appeared in sideshows to support her children. Photo credit: A. R. Coster/Getty Images

Mary Ann Bevan, who was born in the late 19th century on the outskirts of London, wasn’t always referred to as being “ugly.” In fact, when she was a young girl, she was even thought to be attractive.

That all changed when she developed a rare disfiguring disease well into adulthood and after becoming a mother multiple times. Bevan used her appearance to make a living despite the fact that after a short period of time her hands, feet, and features were completely altered.

This is the story of how Mary Ann Bevan became the Ugliest Woman in the World, one of the most tragic figures in the once-thriving sideshow business, to support herself and her family.

Earlier Years of Mary Ann Bevan

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan The Ugliest Woman In The World 5
Photo Credit: dailyfilipinonews.com

On December 20, 1874, Mary Ann Webster was born to a big family on the outskirts of London. She grew up exactly like her siblings, and in 1894 she earned her nursing license. In 1903, she married Thomas Bevan, a farmer from the county of Kent.

The marriage gave birth to two healthy sons and two healthy daughters, and the Bevans settled into a happy, fruitful life. Sadly, Thomas passed away unexpectedly in 1914, leaving Mary to care for four children on her tiny income. Soon after her husband passed away, she started to exhibit symptoms of acromegaly, a condition in which the pituitary glands produce too many growth hormones.

One of the more uncommon pituitary conditions, acromegaly, can now be treated if caught early enough. Bevan had no way to treat or prevent the condition, however, due to the limitations of early 20th-century medicine, and she soon noticed that her features had changed beyond recognition.

Mary Ann Bevan Deals With Acromegaly Head-On

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan The Ugliest Woman In The World 2
Acromegaly carries several health risks, ranging in severity from sleep apnea to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney disorders. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Bevan’s otherwise normal hands and feet grew out of all proportion, her forehead and lower jaw extended, and her nose grew noticeably bigger as a result of her condition. She turned to odd jobs to support her family because her changing appearance made it difficult for her to find and keep a job.

She was permanently altered by the rare condition. Years later, a former worker at the fairgrounds claimed that the farmer she was employed by was the one who told Bevan that “all [she was] fit for [was] the ugly woman competition.”

Bevan took the farmer’s advice to heart and entered the “Homeliest Woman” competition right away, easily defeating 250 other women to win the illustrious title. Since her doctor had assured her that her condition would only get worse, she decided to take advantage of the attention her victory had attracted from sideshow operators in order to support her children. She soon had consistent work performing at fairgrounds all over the British Isles as part of a traveling fair.

In 1920, Bevan responded to the “Wanted: Ugliest woman” advertisement in a London newspaper. Nothing hideous, mangled, or deformed. For the selected applicant, a good salary and a lengthy engagement are guaranteed. The ad had been placed by a British agent for Barnum and Bailey’s circus, who discovered that she had “the face of an ugly woman that was not unpleasant,” which may sound paradoxical.

Mary Ann Bevan’s Sideshow Success

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan The Ugliest Woman In The World 3
Postcards like these earned Bevan roughly $12 apiece when sold at fairgrounds. Photo Credit: American Philosophical Society

Bevan was invited to perform in the sideshow at Coney Island’s Dreamland amusement park, which at the time was one of the biggest venues in the world for sideshow performers, after mailing the agent a photograph created especially for the occasion. The idea for the attraction originated with Senator William H. Reynolds and promoter Samuel W. Gumpertz, who is regarded as one of the most influential people in sideshow history and later collaborated with Harry Houdini.

She was paraded alongside other well-known sideshow performers like Zip the “Pinhead,” Jean Carroll, the Tattooed Lady, and Lionel, the Lion-Faced Man. The 154 pounds she lugged around on her 5′ 7″ frame, along with her size 11 feet and size 25 hands, were open for all Dreamland visitors to admire. Bevan accepted the demeaning treatment with composure. She “smiled mechanically, offered postcards of herself for sale,” earning enough money for her own education and the education of her kids.

As the years went by, Mary Ann Bevan kept attracting crowds and even joined the world-famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show to perform. In just two years of performing in New York, she earned £20,000, roughly equivalent to $1.6 million in 2022. She also succeeded in her goal of providing for her children.

The Last Days Of Mary Ann Bevan

The Tragic Story Of Mary Ann Bevan The Ugliest Woman In The World 4
Bevan continued to appear at Coney Island’s Dreamland sideshow until her death in 1933. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Bevan also had relationships with people outside of the sideshow crowd and had friends. She began dating Andrew, a giraffe keeper, while she was performing at Madison Square Garden in 1929. She even consented to a makeover at a New York beauty salon, where stylists straightened her hair, gave her a manicure, and massaged her. They also put makeup on her face.

Mary Ann herself, however, upon seeing her reflection, merely said, “I guess I’ll be getting back to work.” Some people cruelly claimed that “the rouge and powder and the rest were as out of place on Mary Ann’s countenance as lace curtains on the portholes of a dreadnought.”

Bevan worked at Coney Island for the remainder of her life, passing away there on December 26, 1933, at the age of 59. She was buried in Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery in Southeast London before being flown back to her native country for her funeral.

Mary Ann Bevan was a forgotten figure known only to experts in sideshow history for many years before her likeness was mockingly used on a Hallmark card in the early 2000s. The card was withdrawn after concerns were raised about further humiliating her.

Similar Stories
The Assassination Of King Alexander

The Assassination Of King Alexander

The assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. This article delves into the rise and reign of King Alexander, exploring his early life and ascension to the throne. It also examines the political and social climate in interwar Yugoslavia, setting the stage for the tensions and challenges that ultimately culminated in his tragic assassination. By understanding the context in which this event unfolded, we can better grasp the significance and impact it had on the nation and its future.

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

At the 1936 Summer Olympics, two Japanese pole vaulters named Sueo Oe and Shuhei Nishida tied for second, but they declined to compete against each other. As a result, Nishida was awarded the silver medal and Oe won a bronze medal. Upon returning to Japan, the athletes had their medals cut in half and spliced together to create new "friendship medals," which were half silver and half bronze.

What is the story behind Wrigley chewing gum?

What is the story behind Wrigley chewing gum?

Wrigley's was originally a soap company that gifted baking powder with their soap. The baking powder became more popular than the soap so they switched to selling baking powder with chewing gum as a gift. The gum became more popular than the baking powder so the company switched to selling gum.

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

In the 1940s and 1950s, Quaker Oats and MIT conducted experiments on radioactive iron and calcium-containing cereal. The diet was part of a study to see if the nutrients in Quaker oatmeal traveled throughout the body. In January 1998, a $1.85 million settlement was reached for 30 victims who came forward.

10 world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history

10 world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history

Volcanic eruptions can devastate cities, change the world's atmosphere, and devastate economic systems. They can create molten lava rivers, mudslides, suffocating ash, and poisonous gases that cause chaos around the world for years. A volcanic explosion's effects can be massive, from its size to its death toll to its economic cost. Here is ten world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history.

Top 10 most cruel medical procedures that are being used today

Top 10 most cruel medical procedures that are being used today

We are all aware that medicine has advanced dramatically over the last fifty years. There are several modern medical approaches available today, but this was not always the case. However, the past of medicine is a dark one. Medical leeches, lobotomy, vascular surgery, cranial stenosis, and even electroshock therapy are all options. These are only a couple of the cruel healing techniques that are still in use today.

What Was the Beast of Gévaudan?

What Was the Beast of Gévaudan?

Between 1764 and 1767, a mysterious animal called the Beast of Gévaudan terrorized the French village called Gévaudan. It attacked and killed about 100 adults and children. While most believe it was a wolf, some say it may have been a wolf-dog hybrid, hyena or even a lion, but without any genetic evidence, the beast will remain a mystery forever.

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.

A Brief History of the PlayStation Gaming Console

A Brief History of the PlayStation Gaming Console

Sony's PlayStation was never meant to be an actual product. Instead, it was intended to be a CD-ROM console that would support Nintendo games. However, when Nintendo backed out of the deal at the last minute, Sony went ahead and launched what soon became one of the most successful gaming consoles of all time.