The fascinating and tragic story of Mary Ann Bevan

photograph.
Claude Bartram was the person in charge of the advertisement. He was an agent for Barnum and Bailey an American circus. Mary Ann had no choice but to respond to the ad because her debts and obligations were mounting.
It was all about providing food for her cherished children she didnt do it to become famous or wealthy. Motherhood was Mary Anns top priority.

Bartram contacted Mary Ann after she submitted a photo of herself. Later on the public became wellversed in the images of her.
But whereas most people only saw a frightening image of a huge woman Bartram noticed more. Unnoticed elements could be found in Mary Anns demeanour and features.
She was not repulsive at all. She had the kind of face one usually finds in a giant a powerful masculine jaw prominent cheekbones 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 later explained.
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.
But while many people just saw a scary picture of a giant woman Bartram saw something more. There were details in Mary Anns face and personality that went unnoticed.
When Mary Ann travelled by boat across the Atlantic in 1920 she was already wellknown when she touched down in New York. As Mary Ann was branded The Ugliest Woman on Earth she was featured on the front cover of nearly every newspaper in the Big Apple.
Mary Ann would go on to become a huge sensation at the Coney Island Circus which was owned by successful Missouri showman Samuel Gumpertz.
In competition with bearded ladies conjoined twins and other individuals with varied physical limitations the newcomer from England outperformed her circus colleagues and Mary Ann became the main attraction.
However several individuals objected to the immorality of using circus performers as props. Even in the 19th century people had strong feelings against using the impairments of freak show performers for financial gain. Harvey Cushing a renowned neurosurgeon intervened and told them to leave Mary Ann alone.