Bearded lady, Annie Jones.
The bearded lady has been a staple of sideshows and fairs going back to least the 1600s, when Barbara Urslerin was born in 1629 and began exhibiting her facial hair in traveling shows by age three. Urslerin became a skilled musician and spoke several languages, making her far more than just a woman with a beard. In the nineteenth century, Annie Jones, the Esau Lady was just one of many bearded ladies on display during the sideshow’s heyday. Working with P.T. Barnum she reportedly earned as much as $150 per week.
Today, bearded ladies continue to take the stage. Jennifer Miller has run her own show called Circus Amok for more than two decades, Dakota the Bearded Lady performs a variety of sideshow acts in Hollywood. Vivian Wheeler, now retired, holds the world record for the longest beard at 11 inches.
And across the pond, Mariam Dadgar reads palms and tells fortunes throughout Europe. Inside her tent hang photos of bearded women from the past. She shares their stories with all who will listen—a bonus above and beyond their palm readings.
Mariam was kind enough to answer a few questions for Weird Historian from her travels through Germany.
Mariam Dadgar in her fortune-telling booth. Note the photos of bearded ladies from the past on the wall. Photo courtesy of Mariam Dadgar.
When did you first start growing a beard?
When I was 21 after the birth of my son a few hair started to grow on my chin. I took the tweezers as my mother recommended and plucked them since then for more than twenty years every day. It was normal to do this. I was not really aware that it would be a beard. I had some ingrown hairs now and then and inflammations and it did not look nice, it looked spotty. So sometimes people did ask me what I have done, and if I had fallen on my chin. And then I answered normally I would have a beard and they started laughing not taking me seriously.
And what made you decide to keep it?
The bearded lady looks into the future. Photo by Angelo Luizzi.
It was in 2003 in a workshop when I got aware that the hair on my chin should be there and that I should not pluck it or fight against it. The hair is part of my body. And I wanted to accept myself with my body. It is just nature. (I do not have PCOS and actually no doctor found any reason…and it is just inherited from the Iranian side of my family I think. Not that they have beards but usually many Iranian women have a lot of facial hair and do something to get rid of it.)
Then in August 2008 I decided to let the hair grow. A photo of Jennifer Miller gave me the last push as I realized that is me, that is how I want to look! And since then I left it growing – sometimes I shorten it when I feel like it.
In 2018 I had a period of some months where I did pluck and shave in order to have my “peace” from the reactions of the people….but then I started again and I feel better with the beard. It is just not easy with the people. And interesting when I had shaved men started flirting with me again ….. 🙂
What types of reactions did you initially get from friends and family?
My father was already dead when I started growing it. He would not have liked it I guess. He might have felt embarrassed. Just guessing. My mother and other relatives do not like it. My mother asked me why I have to shock people like this. So I guess she was shocked. My relatives seemed to have gotten used to it, but they tell me to get normal and adapt to society!! My son is tolerant. And so are friends.
Reading a palm. Photo by Angelo Luizzi.
And how about strangers, how do they react?
All kind of reactions, mainly it is laughing and not being able to stop laughing. Trying to tell the one next to them and following me in supermarkets trying to take photos. (Worst place is McDonalds, where I am unfortunately right now to have internet and electricity to write to you. Worst are teenagers and people with a narrow mind.) Though it’s rare that people are aggressive, or not understanding, or unfriendly.
Doctors and their staff stare at me and guess it’s a hormonal problem.
But it depends in which country I am. The people in the UK and Ireland usually do not show their emotional movement or reaction so it seems they do not react at all or are tolerant. In the south like Portugal people have no limit to show their confusion or emotions so there they even point with the finger to me or wonder what I am. The main question “What is this??” Man or woman.
How do you respond when people are curious about your beard—whether they’re asking questions or just staring?
When people want to know about the beard I tell them that 30 % of all the women in the world actually have facial hair (a number given by a laser institute who have to deal with this every day!) and also that it is inherited or genetic. I believe that it is not a sickness as doctors like to say. Today there is even the guess that women having facial hair could be intersex but this is not really clear. A lot to investigate still.
Me I feel more intersexual and would prefer not to be put in any category. But as it is easier and I am from my chromosomes a woman I say I am a woman with a beard.
I am still on my path and if there is the option to put intersex into the passport I would prefer.
What I do not like is people laughing or staring or taking pictures. If it bothers me too much I go away. And this limits me sometimes. It is not so easy sitting in a cafe or bar or to go to the swimming pool.
A rebuild of the bearded lady’s booth for a museum exhibition.
How do you change their perception of you?
I would say if people meet me and talk with me then they see I am a “normal” human being like them. There’s no need to be scared or irritated. And then after a while it becomes normal for them and the beard then is in the background or they do not even notice it.
It is the same for me to speak with a man with a beard. I do not really think or remember all the time that he has a beard. I look into the eyes or other facial movement.
And if people look, I cannot always react as it is just too many people, for example, in a shopping center or on the street. Yes, they look but I have to focus and just do what I want to do, and not bother with them.
Working on the festival can change more, as I can talk with them. And I am there to do so.
Tell me about your palm reading and psychic reading business. Were you doing this before the beard? How did you learn these skills?
I began studying palm reading from books at the age of 14. But at that time it was hard to find books. It was not like today. And the Psychic Reading I learned in 1996-1998 and finished with a diploma as a Psychic Reader and Healer from the School of Spiritual Reading and Healing in Portugal. Many years I did not use it a lot as I did not have a good self-confidence and thought I am not good enough.
The last eight years I’ve practiced a lot in festivals in Italy, France, Sweden and Denmark and now I am feeling different and got a lot of very good feedback.
Does your beard help your business?
The beard is in a way good for the business as it made me an attraction on the festivals with other circus performers and street artists and opened a door for me. It distinguishes me from other readers.
Still I could also work without the beard and give readings. But the beard gives some magic and mystery which might make it more interesting.
I make the connection to inform people about hair on women’s bodies and facial hair and bearded women if they like – and it is also an old circus tradition to have the bearded lady in the circus. And I give the opportunity to speak with me have a conversation that usually people are scared of when they see me in the street. Or they would not dare to talk to me. But still they are curious and have questions.
A psychic reading in the Bearded Lady’s booth. Photo courtesy of Mariam Dadgar.
You mentioned you travel from Germany to Italy. Do you make other stops as well? How many different cities do you hit each year?
I do not know. I cannot answer this question. I am living in the van I have no place to live. I am a nomad and so I’m moving all the time.
What are your feelings toward these women who displayed their beards long before you?
I am feeling for these women love, compassion, fascination and interest.
Do you intend to grow yours longer? Or is length unimportant?
Length is not a goal. I am not into competition about my beard. I like it also short and I grow it as long as I like but also I think it will not get too long. 10 cm maybe or 12cm I guess. 5.5 inch perhaps.
Out of curiosity I wanted to find out how long it would grow if I do not cut it. But until today I did not succeed as I had to cut it again and again.
What’s the most challenging thing about being a woman with a beard?
That the time of being invisible is over. It is like being on the stage as soon as you leave the house. It is not always pleasant and can also be annoying and limiting if you have to go to the swimming pool and take a shower there or just being watched all the time. Going to doctors, sleeping in a dorm in a hostel and so on……it is challenging and also teaching a lot. So I am grateful to have the beard and I love it!
