Mary Ann Bevan

About

English nurse who toured the sideshow circuit and became known as "the ugliest woman in the world." She developed acromegaly, a rare condition where body tissues and bones grow more quickly due to an overproduction of growth hormone. 

Before Fame

In 1914, she entered a "Homeliest Woman" contest, beating 250 competitors for the title. After two years of performing in New York, she earned 20 thousand pounds, equivalent to over 1.5 million U.S. dollars in 2022.

Trivia

She was hired to appear in Coney Island's Dreamland sideshow in 1920, going on to spend most of the rest of her life there.

Family Life

She was born into a family of eight children and raised in Plaistow, East London. She married Thomas Bevan in 1902; they had four children.

Associated With

She also appeared in Charles and John Ringling's Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circuses.