The story of Mary Ann Bevan, who was considered ‘The ugliest woman in the world,’ starts in the 19th century, a dark period of the American culture when ‘freak shows,’ traveling circuses showing people with certain deformities and disabilities, were at the peak of their popularity.
Today, it is highly unacceptable to treat people with disabilities with disrespect, but back in the day, no one believed it was morally wrong to dub them freaks.
Mary Ann Bevan was born on December 20, 1874, in Plaistow, East London, United Kingdom. She grew up to become a nurse and was respected by the society. On top of that, she was a very attractive woman who was offered many possibilities.
In 1902, Mary met the love of her life, a man named Thomas Bevan. The two married and welcomed four children together, but their happiness didn’t last long. After 14 years, Thomas passed away, leaving Mary heartbroken.
Her life became difficult as she was left to take care and provide for her children all by herself.
Unfortunately, around the time she turned 32, Mary started experiencing strange symptoms. Her face started changing gradually and she didn’t know what was happening or what caused that change which impacted her both psychologically and financially. Mary’s bones grew big, and her face became deformed. As a result, she lost her job and was unable to provide for her children any longer.
Back in the day, no one could diagnose her, but this poor woman suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that develops when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood, when a change in height doesn’t occur. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones of the hands, feet and face.
Today, a lot more is knows about this condition and there are ways to keep it under control, which wasn’t the case during the time Mary lived.
Crushed, heartbroken, and poor, this woman saw an ad one day which read, “Wanted: Ugliest woman. Nothing repulsive, maimed or disfigured. Good pay guaranteed, and long engagement for successful applicant. Send recent photograph.”
No matter how awful she felt about this ‘job,’ she saw no way out of her situation. She simply needed to do anything in order to feed her children. Above all, she was a mother.
Mary answered the ad and she was soon contacted by the circus’ agent, a man named Claude Bartram, who later shared Mary’s story.
“She was not repulsive at all. She had the kind of face one usually finds in a giant, a powerful, masculine jaw, prominent cheek-bones, nose and forehead, but she was unblemished, healthy and strong. She told me she did not like the idea of placing herself on exhibition, she was shy and did not want to be separated from her children,” Bartram said, according to Daily Star.
“I told her she would earn £10 per week for a year, travelling expenses and all the money from the sale of picture postcards of herself, so she could provide for the education of her children.”
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D637154017772048%26set%3Da.202975904523197%26type%3D3&show_text=true&width=500
In no time, magazines were filled with Mary Ann’s photos and everyone recognized her as ‘the ugliest woman on Earth.’
Her popularity brought her to the Dreamland Circus in Coney Island, New York, one of the most famous circuses there were. Mary Ann became an attraction, but then a doctor named Harvey Cushing, a leading neurosurgeon, spotted her and knew there was more behind ger huge face that he wanted to explore thoroughly.
“This unfortunate woman who sits in the sideshow of Ringling Brothers ‘between Fat Lady and Armless Wonder’ and ‘affects white lace hats, woollen mittens and high laced shoes’ has a story which is far from mirth-provoking.
“She, previously a vigorous and good-looking young woman, has become the victim of a disease known as acromegaly,” he wrote in a letter to Time magazine.
Mary Ann spent her life working at the circus and she was reported to have earned a small fortune which enabled her to send her children back to England where they attended boarding schools.
She endured a lot, but she did it all for her children.
Mary Ann died at the age of 59 of natural causes. Her final wish was to be buried in her homeland, England, and her children fulfilled her wish. She is resting at the Ladywell and Brockley Cemetery in South London.
This woman’s sad, yet fascinating life story speaks of the mother’s love for her children more than anything else.
Why Blake Lively Was Praised for Posting Bikini Photos
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been together for over a decade and are a prime example of a strong and loving couple, who are big on humor. Even before becoming parents to their 4 children, Blake predicted that Ryan would be a great father, leader, and patriarch. Recently, the couple shared exclusive snaps from their vacation, and fans were amazed at how healthy Blake looked just weeks after giving birth. Moreover, she revealed a detail about her health, to one lucky fan.
Blake posted bikini pictures and fans praised her for not touching them up.
In a tropical setting, Blake Lively flaunted her post-baby figure in a black cut-out swimsuit, and her online community was quick to commend the natural appearance of the photos. One fan said, “Let’s take a moment to appreciate how normal these pictures look,” while another praised Blake for not promoting unhealthy or speedy weight loss methods to shed her baby weight.
By choosing to share unedited photos, Blake sends a positive message of self-love and body acceptance to her fans. She inspires them to embrace their natural beauty rather than striving for the unrealistic and often unattainable standards set by the media.
The couple had some special guests on their getaway.
During their vacation, Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were joined by their mothers, Elaine Lively and Tammy Reynolds, and they all posed for a group selfie on a sandy beach.
Ryan never misses an opportunity to pay tribute to the women in his life, adding his own hilarious twist to it. For Mother’s Day, he said, “I salute these three incredible mothers for their wisdom, strength and ability to forever appear as though they’re standing at the doorway to their own surprise birthday party.”
When celebrities share pictures online, every detail gets closely examined.
Living life in the spotlight means that every detail in your public photos is subject to scrutiny, and Blake Lively is no exception. In a mirror selfie that the actress shared, one fan spotted a tiny pill bottle on a shelf and asked in the comments, “What pills are those? Do share.”
Blake’s response of “😂 Strep throat. So fun,” came as a surprise to her followers, and one lucky fan couldn’t believe that they received a reply from “THE Blake Lively.” Another follower even humorously suggested that the fortunate follower should purchase a lottery ticket. Once again, this exchange proves that Blake is down-to-earth and has a great sense of humor, even when dealing with an annoying illness like strep throat.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are a beloved Hollywood couple, cherished by fans for various compelling reasons. Their authenticity and down-to-earth nature shine through in their interactions, frequently bringing laughter to those who follow their journey.
Preview photo credit blakelively / Instagram
Leave a Reply