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Freak shows have long had a controversial history, both benefiting and exploiting the human exhibits who starred in them. While some performers were able to leverage their unique traits to gain freedom and financial independence, for every success story, there were countless others who were taken advantage of. Some performers were treated as little more than property, bought and sold for the profit of their 'owners,' who treated them as mere commodities. Female performers, in particular, often found themselves trapped in controlling marriages, where they were manipulated and exploited.
In today's world, the term 'freak' has been reclaimed, with performers taking control of their own narratives through the internet. Bearded women, in particular, now challenge gender expectations, earn their own livelihoods, and present themselves on their own terms. These bearded women are clearly taking charge of their own stories.
The future of the freak show is evolving into something empowering, consensual, and captivating. Currently, the most captivating trend is the rise of beautiful bearded women. So come and witness ten incredible bearded ladies who have redefined beauty standards, from the 1500s to the present day.
10. Helena Antonia
Not much is known about Helena Antonia, a bearded lady born in the 1500s, but her place in the court of Holy Roman Empress Maria of Austria certainly makes her an intriguing figure worthy of recognition on this list.
Helena Antonia was a bearded dwarf whose status was so esteemed that her portrait was created as part of the royal court. She was dressed in the fashionable feminine clothing of her time, and depictions from that era show her with a full, dark beard.
Was she regarded as a fully accepted member of the court, or did she serve more as a figure of amusement? Unfortunately, her true role and perspective remain a mystery, as time has obscured any further details beyond her portrait.
9. Julia Pastrana
The tragic story of Julia Pastrana is among the most heartbreaking accounts of exploitation and dehumanization in the entertainment industry.
Born in 1834 in Mexico, Pastrana was often called the 'ape woman,' 'bear woman,' 'baboon woman,' or even 'the ugliest woman in the world' because of her distinctive features and hirsute face and body. She was later diagnosed posthumously with generalized hypertrichosis lanuginosa, which caused the excess hair, and gingival hyperplasia, which made her lips and gums thick and protruding.
Julia Pastrana was an exceptionally gifted and intelligent woman. She spoke three languages and was a talented dancer and opera singer. Discovered in a Mexican orphanage by the governor of Sinaloa, she was brought to New York to perform, quickly gaining a manager and embarking on a worldwide tour.
For six brief years, she captured the attention of audiences, her incredible talents heightened by the way her appearance was perceived. She married her manager and became pregnant with his child, who inherited her hypertrichosis but tragically died shortly after birth. Julia passed away five days later from complications at the young age of 26.
Her husband went on to showcase the taxidermied bodies of both his wife and child, treating them as if they were nothing more than museum pieces rather than human beings.
8. Josephine Clofullia
Josephine Boisdechen was born in Switzerland in 1831 with a full body of hair, and by the time she was two, she had grown a full beard. Unsure of how to navigate their daughter's unique condition, her well-intentioned parents sent her to boarding school, where both her education and her beard flourished.
Josephine began showcasing her talents with her father as her agent. She eventually met a man named Fortune Clofullia, who also had a thick beard, and the two married. Josephine became a mother, and while her first child passed away, her second son survived and exhibited a similar beautiful beard, even as an infant.
Josephine began working with P.T. Barnum, bringing along her bearded son. She became infamous after being involved in a lawsuit where it was claimed she was a fraud, allegedly male. Madame Clofullia was, without a doubt, a woman, a fact confirmed by three doctors who testified on her behalf in court.
The later years of Josephine Clofullia remain shrouded in mystery, but they likely fared better than the tragic life of Julia Pastrana.
7. Annie Jones
Annie Jones was born in 1865 to American parents, with a beard already beginning to grow in the womb, making it visible right at birth.
At just over a year old, Annie was given the title “the Infant Esau” and displayed by P.T. Barnum. Offered $150 a week, a substantial sum at the time, her mother moved with her to New York. However, she was soon forced to return to Virginia, and while attending to a family emergency, Annie was kidnapped by a local phrenologist. Thankfully, she was located in upstate New York, and her mother made sure never to leave her daughter's side again.
Annie later became known as the Esau Child, and then the Esau Lady, turning into a professional showwoman as she traveled the globe. A gifted musician, she also grew her hair to over 1.8 meters (6 ft) long to enhance her appearance. Annie was married twice and passed away at 37. Surviving photographs depict her as a graceful, well-dressed woman with beautifully maintained facial hair.
6. Clementine Delait
Clementine Delait was a Frenchwoman who took pride in the beauty of her distinctive double-plumed beard.
Having been bearded since her teenage years, Clementine married a baker and ran a café and bakery in Lorraine. Initially, she shaved her beard, but after seeing another bearded woman, she made a bet with her husband that she could grow a more impressive beard. The bet brought in customers, and their café was soon renamed 'Cafe of the Bearded Woman.'
In 1904, she received permission from the government to wear men's clothing, which she did on occasion. However, she preferred cycling in a skirt.
Clementine Delait was a loving wife and mother to her adopted child. A vibrant, larger-than-life character, she seemed like someone who would have been a joy to know. Although she couldn’t write, she dictated her memoirs and made her final wish known: to be buried with the epitaph, 'Here lies Clementine Delait, the bearded lady.'
5. Jane Barnell
Jane Barnell gained enduring fame for her portrayal as a bearded lady in the 1932 film Freaks.
At just four years old, Jane was sold to a circus by her mother while her father was away on a business trip. The circus soon left for Europe, and Jane was left in a German orphanage when she fell ill. Miraculously, her father found and rescued her when she was five.
Despite her tragic start in show business, Jane returned to performing as an adult and was known for having the longest beard of any bearded woman at the time, measuring 33 centimeters (13 inches). She performed under the names Lady Olga, Madame Olga, and Lady Olga Roderick. Jane also performed on the trapeze until an accident ended her trapeze career, after which she transitioned to becoming a commercial photographer.
Jane Barnell married multiple times and had two children, both of whom she outlived. She was displeased with how the people in Freaks were portrayed and expressed disappointment with her own role in the film.
4. Vivian Wheeler
Vivian Wheeler was born in 1948. Unlike the other women featured here, she was born intersex and underwent operations to alter her genitals to align with a more conventional female appearance.
While Vivian's mother adored her, her father saw her as a source of income. Starting at the age of five, Vivian worked in sideshows and sent most of the money back home. On the road, she was mentored by older bearded women, but at home, she was forced to shave. Vivian did not appreciate having to change herself through shaving.
As she matured, Vivian adopted the name Malinda Maxey and became deeply spiritual. She married twice and had two long-term relationships with men, despite being attracted to both genders.
Vivian is now retired and the mother of a son, whom she gave up for adoption when he was young. She later reunited with him on The Maury Povich Show.
3. Harnaam Kaur
Harnaam Kaur, a bearded lady, has become an Instagram sensation. Due to PCOS, she has grown a full beard, but now she thrives as a true Instagram personality and model.
With her bold use of color through lipstick, a vibrant turban, and lavish, intricate clothing and jewelry, Harnaam is a captivating sight. Rather than hiding her appearance, she embraces it, presenting herself with pride. She stands as a beacon of positivity, showcasing a different kind of beauty in a society that often imposes restrictive ideals of how women should look, act, and be.
Harnaam has faced bullying from peers and adults alike but has overcome it, embracing her unique look and the beauty that radiates from her, a beauty that is only enhanced by her stunning beard.
2. Kore Bobisuthi
Kore Bobisuthi is a mother leading an otherwise typical life, with one notable distinction: she has a beard. With her full, well-groomed beard, she competes in beard contests alongside men. Her beard is the result of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that she manages daily.
Despite her pride in her beard, Kore faces constant harassment whenever she’s out in public, simply for choosing not to shave. For Kore, her partner, and their son, the issue isn’t her beard—it’s the judgment and abuse from society. When men feel entitled to mistreat a woman simply because she has a beard, it’s hard not to see the unfairness in that.
1. Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Miller is a modern-day, openly proud bearded lady who has fully embraced her unique role in the world. She’s taken control of her own narrative, performing in her own circus and showcasing her talents.
Rather than conform to the societal pressure to shave, Jennifer chose a different path. She moved away from mainstream norms and spent her life celebrating her bearded self, blending feminism with humor. As the owner of Circus Amok, Jennifer is an influential writer, playwright, performer, and activist, whose creativity knows no bounds.
