Julia Pastrana (1834–1860), was an indigenous woman from Mexico, who took part in 19th-century exhibition tours in Europe. She had hypertrichosis terminalis; her face and body were covered with thick black hair. Her ears and nose were unusually large and her teeth were irregular which makes her look like an ape.
Early Life and Condition: Julia Pastrana was born in 1834 in Mexico with two rare genetic conditions: hypertrichosis, which caused her body to be covered in thick hair, and gingival hyperplasia, which thickened her lips and gums. Her unusual appearance led her to be exhibited as a “freak” across Europe and the United States.
Career and Exploitation: Pastrana’s manager, Theodore Lent, whom she later married, exploited her for profit. She was marketed as the “Ape Woman” and performed for audiences, often singing and dancing. Despite her mistreatment, Julia was known to have a kind and gentle nature.
Tragic Death: Julia Pastrana’s death was as tragic as her life. In 1860, while in Moscow, Russia, she gave birth to a son who inherited her genetic conditions. The baby, born prematurely and suffering from similar physical anomalies, tragically died within three days. Julia herself succumbed to complications from the childbirth a few days later, at the age of 26.
Her husband, Theodore Lent, continued to exploit her even in death. He had both Julia and their infant son mummified and displayed them in macabre exhibitions across Europe. The mummified remains were treated as spectacles, displayed in glass cabinets, and toured for profit for many years.
It wasn’t until decades later, after much advocacy, that her remains were repatriated to her homeland. In 2013, Julia Pastrana was finally laid to rest with dignity in Sinaloa, Mexico, where she received a proper burial, marking the end of a long journey of exploitation and dehumanization. Her story now serves as a poignant reminder of the cruelty faced by those who were different in the past.
