Mary Ann Bevan was once labeled the “World’s Ugliest Woman.” Despite this harsh title, she was stunningly beautiful in her youth and was a strong, resourceful woman who overcame significant challenges throughout her life.

Born Mary Ann Webber on December 20, 1874, she was one of eight children. She grew up in Plaistow, a suburban area on the eastern edge of London. Before becoming a mother and wife, she worked as a nurse. However, her life would take a dramatic turn, eventually leading to her infamous title.

Mary Ann Bevan Faces Challenges

Mary Ann Bevan worked hard throughout her life, but she did experience a brief period of happiness. In 1903, she married Thomas Bevan from Kent County. Together, they had four children, but their marriage was cut short when Thomas passed away unexpectedly in 1914, leaving Mary Ann to care for their family. Soon after her husband’s death, Mary Ann began showing symptoms of her own health issues. She was diagnosed with acromegaly, a disorder that affects hormone production, causing the pituitary gland to produce excessive growth hormone during adulthood. This leads to abnormal bone growth.

The Rare Condition

Acromegaly, affecting fewer than 20,000 people annually, can be easily treated today, thanks to modern medicine. However, it can develop both during adolescence and adulthood. In children, it leads to gigantism, characterized by abnormal height growth. In adults, like Mary Ann, the condition doesn’t affect height but causes the bones in the hands, feet, and face to enlarge, along with thickened lips and other symptoms such as oily skin, excessive sweating, body odor, changes in the voice, severe snoring, vision problems, and headaches. The condition progresses slowly, and in many cases, it can take years for noticeable symptoms to appear.

Generally caused by a non-cancerous tumor in the pituitary gland, acromegaly can also result from tumors in the lungs or pancreas. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as increased cancer risk, heart issues, high blood pressure, and more. Today, treatment options include hormone-suppressing medications, surgery, or radiation, depending on the tumor’s size and location.

Mary Ann Bevan’s Resourcefulness

Unfortunately, treatment was not available to Mary Ann Bevan in her time, and soon, she found herself needing to find a way to support her family. Though her solution was heartbreaking, it showed her ingenuity and resilience. After likely working multiple jobs, she eventually entered a career that would change her life.

It’s said that Mary Ann worked for a farmer who insulted her, telling her that she was “fit for nothing but the ugly woman competition.” Desperate to support her children, she took the insult as a challenge and entered a “Homeliest Woman” contest. She won, beating out 250 other contestants. This victory marked the beginning of her new career. She became an entertainer, traveling across the British Isles with a fair.

A New Career with Barnum & Bailey Circus

In 1920, Mary Ann Bevan responded to an advertisement in a London newspaper seeking the "ugliest woman." The ad promised good pay and a long-term engagement for the successful applicant. To her surprise, the ad was from Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. After sending in her photograph, she was offered a job at Dreamland Amusement Park in Coney Island. She performed alongside other well-known figures in the “freak show” circuit. By the 1920s, Mary Ann had grown to be 5'7" tall, weighing 154 pounds, with size 25 hands and size 11 feet. Her international fame was a bittersweet combination of humiliation and the ability to provide for her family. She even sold postcards of herself to audiences as a way to capitalize on her fame.

From Struggles to Success

Thanks to her resourcefulness, Mary Ann not only supported her children but also ensured they received an education. She earned approximately $2 million in today’s economy during her two years performing. In addition to her newfound fame and fortune, she also found love. In 1929, while performing at Madison Square Garden, she met a giraffe keeper named Andrew. However, by then, Mary Ann was nearing 60, and doctors had warned her that her condition would eventually lead to her premature death. On December 26, 1933, just six days after her 59th birthday, Mary Ann Bevan passed away, and her body was returned to her homeland for burial.

Mary Ann Bevan’s Legacy

For much of her life, Mary Ann Bevan was known primarily for her sideshow performances, but in recent years, her life story has gained more recognition. Her image was used on a greeting card in the early 2000s, sparking controversy and prompting the card’s removal. However, this incident also drew attention to her story, shedding light on her as a loving mother who was driven by the desire to provide for her family and rise above the challenges life had given her.