Julia
Pastrana, once known as "the ugliest woman in the world," was born in
1834 with hypertrichosis terminalis, meaning her entire body was covered
with hair several inches long. She also had a deformed mouth with huge
teeth, leading one doctor of the day to declare that she was "a hybrid
between human and orangutan." However, Pastrana sang with a beautiful
voice and could speak several languages. She was exhibited by Theodor
Lent, who eventually married her. In 1860, Pastrana gave birth in Moscow
to a son who was also covered with hair, and who died within two days.
Pastrana herself died five days later. Her body was preserved and
exhibited by various owners for the next few decades, eventually ending
up in storage in Oslo. Now, thanks to the efforts of Mexican artist
Laura Anderson Barbata, Pastrana's body was returned to her native
Mexico, where she was buried February 13, 2013.
People flocked to
the town of Sinaloa de Leyva on Tuesday where Julia Pastrana was laid to
rest in a white coffin adorned with white roses.
"Imagine the
aggression and cruelty of humankind she had to face, and how she
overcame it. It's a very dignified story," said Sinaloa Governor Mario
Lopez.
"A human being should not be the object of anyone," Father Jaime Reyes Retana told mourners.
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