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.”
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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.
Sister Wives star Janelle Brown’s son Bad News
Garrison Brown, whose family is at the center of the long-running TLC reality series Sister Wives, was found dead at 25.
His mother, Janelle Brown, and his estranged father, Kody Brown, posted similar messages on their social media.
“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown,” the statement by Janelle read.
“He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.”
It went on: “We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.”
Flagstaff Police said that Garrison died “as a result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” as reported by Variety.
His deceased body was discovered by his brother Gabriel, 22, after Janelle asked her children if anyone could check on Garrison since he stopped responding to her messages. Prior to his suicide, Garrison was sending “troubling” messages to some of his friends.
According to TMZ, Janelle revealed to the police that “Garrison had texted a group of people that the Brown family works with [presumably from their show].”
In one of the messages, he allegedly stated: “I want to hate you for sharing the good times. But I can’t. I miss these days.”
When Janelle got a word about these messages, she texted Garrison directly. The two had a brief conversation but he then stopped responding.
Those who knew Garrison could witness his troubles. Some of his friends even spoke of him as of not a happy man.
According to TMZ, his roommates heard a pop on Monday night but they had no idea it could be a gunshot. They, however, didn’t check on him.
They said they were aware he was having troubles with alcohol abuse as well as problems with his ex-girlfriend. He was said to be battling depression, too.
Garrison was part of the show Sister Wives, which features the lives of his father and his four wives and many children, from the start. At the time the show first aired in 2010, he was just 12 years old.
His parents were together for thirty years, with Janelle becoming Kody’s second wife, but they split in 2022. They had six children together.
Last year, Kody opened up about his recently estranged relationship with his eldest son.
“I haven’t been in touch with Gabriel and Garrison for quite a while,” he shared at the time.
“I’m pretty sad that I’m not close [to them] anymore. There was just so many things in our lives that we did that were rich together, you know, just special experiences.”
He went on: “I think and hope that in time we’ll just get over this and that we’ll be safe being back around each other.
“Right now, there’s not really an open door with Gabe and Garrison. They’re they’re not willing to engage me.”
We are so very sorry for this loss.
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