This is Mary Ann Bevan. I had seen her photo on the Internet a few times with the caption:

 This is Mary Ann Bevan. I had seen her photo on the Internet a few times with the caption:


“The Ugliest Woman in the World” but thought there was more to her story than just her appearance.


So I did some digging and was surprised to discover that she did not always look like this. If you swipe left, you’ll see a photo of her before she began to exhibit symptoms of acromegaly, shortly after her marriage at age 32.


Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone after the growth plates have closed. The disorder affects 3 out of 50,000 people and typically enlarges the hands and feet, but may also increase the size of the jaw, nose, and forehead.


Mary was born in 1874 to a middle class family and was the only daughter (she had 7 brothers). She studied medicine and became a nurse in 1894. Nine years later, she married Thomas Bevan and had four children. They were a happy family until Mary was struck with the unknown disease at the time. Her husband stayed by her side, but passed away suddenly from a stroke in 1914. Mary could not find a job due to her physical appearance. Out of desperation, she entered an “Ugliest Woman” competition and won. She put up with the humiliation and ridicule in order to provide for her family.

 

In 1920, Mary was invited to the Dreamland Circus in Coney Island, where she worked until her death in 1933. She also made guest appearances for Ringling Bros. and amassed enough money to raise her four children.

 

Bevan should be remembered as an amazing mother who did what she had to do to survive.

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