Gorgeous lady from England After being diagnosed with acromegaly at the beginning of the 20th century, Mary Ann Bevan was compelled to work in sideshows and circuses.
Mary Ann Bevan, sometimes referred to as the “Ugliest Woman in the World,” regularly performed at carnivals and other events to help her family financially.
Mary Ann Bevan wasn’t always viewed as being “ugly.”
Born in a London suburb in the late 1800s, she was pampered and looked like any other young woman.
When she was diagnosed with a rare deformity after reaching adulthood and having many children, everything changed.
In a matter of years, Bevan’s face, hands, and feet became permanently deformed, leaving her with little choice but to rely on her looks for financial support.
Mary Ann Bevan, one of the most tragic figures from the formerly bustling sideshow business, tells the story of how she got the nickname “Ugliest Woman in the World.”
Early Years of Mary Ann Bevan
Mary Ann Webster was born on December 20, 1874, in an expansive family on the outskirts of London.
Raised in the same manner as her siblings, she graduated from nursing school in 1894 and married Kentish farmer Thomas Bevan in 1903.
The Bevans’ marriage got off to a wonderful start when they had two healthy sons and two healthy daughters.