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Julia Pastrana
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Julia Pastrana
Julia Pastrana (1834 - 1860), from Mexico, a hairy woman who married a showman, Theodor Lent, but died in childbirth at Moscow (the child also died). Both bodies were mummified for display purposes, her upper eye-teeth and incisors are missing. Photograph is of her embalmed, but now resides in a sealed coffin at the University of Oslo, Norway
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Bearded Body Childbirth Died Hairy Human Julia Married Mexican Mexico Moscow Mummified Norway Oddities Oslo Pastrana Sealed Showman University Paranormal
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Julia Pastrana: A Victorian-Era Enigma Embalmed in Time Julia Pastrana, born in Mexico in 1834, was an extraordinary woman whose life and death defied the norms of her time. Afflicted with hypertrichosis, a condition that caused her to have a dense coat of hair covering her body, she became a sensation in the Victorian era as a 'Hairy Woman.' Married to Theodor Lent, a showman, Pastrana's life was spent traveling with him, performing in sideshows and exhibitions. Her unique appearance drew crowds, and she was often displayed alongside other 'freaks' and oddities. Despite the challenges and hardships, Pastrana's resilience and determination shone through. Tragedy struck in 1860 when Pastrana died in childbirth in Moscow, along with her newborn child. Grief-stricken, Lent had their bodies mummified for display purposes, believing that their unique appearances would continue to draw crowds. The embalmed remains of Julia Pastrana now reside in a sealed coffin at the University of Oslo, Norway. Her dress, adorned with beads and lace, remains a testament to the woman behind the spectacle. Despite the loss of her upper eye-teeth and incisors, her face remains preserved, with her dark eyes gazing out, seemingly defying the passage of time. Pastrana's story is a poignant reminder of the fascination with human oddities in the Victorian era and the complexities of the human condition. Her legacy continues to intrigue and inspire, as her story transcends the boundaries of time and culture.
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