The fascinating and tragic story of Mary Ann Bevan

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.

Coney Island, Dreamland Circus Show

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.

I Found a Love Letter in My Wife’s Jeans, and It Ruined My Life in an Unexpected Way

Arthur’s discovery of a love letter in his wife Emily’s jeans ten years after their wedding led him on a quest to salvage their marriage, only to unearth a truth that shattered his plans and their life together.

My name is Arthur, and I’ve been married to Emily for a blissful ten years. We have a wonderful six-year-old daughter and live in a cozy home that’s always been our happy place.

I work from home as a graphic designer, which allows me to spend lots of time with my family.

A man working on his laptop | Source: Pexels

A man working on his laptop | Source: Pexels

While I spend most days in my pajamas, Emily dresses up every morning before leaving for the local college where she works as a tutor. She’s passionate about her job, and I believe she’s really good at it.

Lately, though, I started to feel a change in the air. It wasn’t anything specific Emily said or did. I felt there was a newfound coldness in our relationship.

Previously, we used to chat about everything—the mundane details of our day, our daughter’s latest antics, or plans for the weekend. With time, these conversations faded and were replaced by polite nods and routine exchanges.

A couple talking in a kitchen | Source: Pexels

A couple talking in a kitchen | Source: Pexels

One evening, as we were clearing the dinner table, I tried to break the ice. “Hey, how was your day? Anything interesting happened with your students?” I asked, trying to reconnect.

She just smiled weakly and replied, “Oh, the usual stuff, nothing worth mentioning.”

Her brief reply felt like a wall going up, making me feel more distant than ever. It was clear that something was off, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

Close-up of a man's face | Source: Pexels

Close-up of a man’s face | Source: Pexels

Emily and I both do chores. It was my turn to do the laundry last Saturday. As usual, I gathered all the clothes scattered around our home and began sorting them. At that point, I had no idea that my heart was about to get broken.

As I emptied the pockets of Emily’s jeans, a folded piece of paper caught my attention. Curious, I unfolded it and found myself staring at a love letter. She didn’t write it to me but to someone named Mark.

I love you always and forever,” Emily wrote in that letter, and I recognized her handwriting immediately. Those six words pierced my heart as my face turned pale. I felt a range of emotions—anger, betrayal, and heartbreak, all at once.

Close-up of text on a paper | Source: Pexels

Close-up of text on a paper | Source: Pexels

I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath, preparing myself to read the text that I knew would break my heart into a million pieces. I sat on the cold floor of our laundry room and read the letter carefully.

“To Mark,

Meeting you transformed my life. The way you make me feel is hard to explain. You have a remarkable ability to make me feel beautiful, valued, worthy, and loved. If I could only give you one thing in this life, it would be the ability to see yourself through my eyes so you could realize how special you are to me.

I love you always and forever.”

My hands trembled as I read the words, and a wave of heartbreak washed over me. How could my wife share such intimate, loving words with someone else?

A man with his fingers on his temples | Source: Pexels

A man with his fingers on his temples | Source: Pexels

As hundreds of painful questions popped into my mind, I whispered to myself, “How long has this been going on?” I couldn’t believe Emily was involved with someone else, but the letter in my hands was a stark, undeniable token of infidelity that I couldn’t just ignore.

Fuming with anger, I wanted to confront Emily immediately but decided to teach her a lesson instead. Little did I know that was the worst decision I could have ever made.

Holding the letter in my hand, I went to my mother’s house. She’s a well-known lawyer in our city, and I trusted her judgment implicitly. When I showed her the letter and explained the situation, her reaction was immediate and intense.

“Arthur, this is clear evidence of her infidelity. You should consider filing for divorce. I’ll support you through this, and we’ll make sure you come out of this with everything you deserve,” she declared firmly. Her words were sharp, fueled by a mix of professional judgment and maternal protectiveness.

Close-up of an older woman | Source: Pexels

Close-up of an older woman | Source: Pexels

Though her reaction aligned with the hurt I was feeling, something inside me hesitated. “Should I end everything based on one letter?” I thought to myself.

“I don’t think I’m ready for this,” I told my mother. “I don’t want to file for divorce right now.”

“But why?” Mom protested, her voice tinged with deep concern. “It’s clear Emily is interested in someone else, Arthur.”

“I want to talk to her first, Mom,” I said calmly. “But please promise me you won’t tell anyone I came here to file for divorce. Not even Dad. No one. Okay?”

“I don’t think you’re doing the right thing, Arthur,” she sighed. “But I’ll keep our meeting a secret. Don’t worry. Just give me a call when you’re ready to file for divorce.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I said before leaving her house.

A man driving a car | Source: Pexels

A man driving a car | Source: Pexels

During the next few days, I consciously tried to salvage our marriage. I wasn’t ready to give up on us without trying to bring back the warmth and closeness we once shared.

I started by being more present at home. Instead of retreating to my desk after dinner as usual, I stayed to help Emily clean up the kitchen.

I took on more of the daily chores, hoping to ease her load and show her that I was there for her.

A person washing dishes | Source: Pexels

A person washing dishes | Source: Pexels

Each morning, I made it a point to ask about her plans for the day. I listened to her plans carefully, ensuring she felt I was paying full attention. I wanted Emily to know I was there for her and our daughter.

I also surprised her with her favorite roses when she returned home from work one day. I felt happy watching her smile as she lifted the bouquet and inhaled the fragrance. It reminded me of our early days when I used to surprise her with roses daily.

With my consistent efforts of trying to make our marriage work, our relationship began to improve. Emily started reciprocating my romantic acts, making me feel better about our bond.

Red roses in a vase | Source: Pexels

Red roses in a vase | Source: Pexels

I believed these small gestures would ultimately bridge the gap that had formed between us until the day Emily returned home visibly upset.

That day, she stormed in, her eyes flashing with anger. “Your family accosted me in the store today, Arthur. They accused me of cheating and warned me about losing everything in a divorce. Is it true? Did you really talk to them about us without speaking to me first?” Her voice was louder and more strained than I had ever heard it.

“Yes, it’s true. After I found that love letter you wrote to Mark, I thought about filing for divorce,” I admitted, my voice tight with frustration. “But then I decided to give our marriage a chance, and you should be grateful that I even considered trying.”

A couple arguing | Source: Pexels

A couple arguing | Source: Pexels

“What are you talking about, Arthur? What letter to Mark?” She was genuinely confused now, her anger mixing with bewilderment.

“The letter in your jeans—the one filled with declarations of love for Mark. I saw it with my own eyes, Emily,” I said pointedly.

Emily started to laugh, a reaction I hadn’t expected. “Oh, Arthur, that letter wasn’t for me. It was a favor for a student who wanted to express her feelings to her boyfriend. I just helped her phrase it better.”

“What?’ I was shocked.

I stood there, feeling the ground shift beneath me as the reality of the misunderstanding dawned on me. My actions, based on a misinterpreted piece of paper, had spiraled out of control, damaging the trust between us perhaps irreparably.

A man standing in the doorway | Source: Pexels

A man standing in the doorway | Source: Pexels

“I can’t believe you’d think I was cheating on you and then tell everyone about filing for divorce!” she yelled at me.

I felt horrible after learning the truth. Feeling guilty, I asked Emily for forgiveness, but she asked me to leave her alone.

The next day, she was sure about wanting a divorce. The trust was broken, not by her supposed infidelity, but by my hasty actions and doubts.

Looking back, I feel terrible thinking about how my insecurities and mistrust ruined my life. What should I do now?

A man facing a window | Source: Pexels

A man facing a window | Source: Pexels

If you enjoyed reading this story, you might like this one about a woman who found a secret folder on her husband’s laptop with her name on it.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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