Julia Pastrana

Julia's baby boy, who had similar facial deformities and was also covered in hair, died 3 days after birth. Julia was disraught that her child was born with her condition.

Her husband (and promoter), Theodore Lent, had them preserved by a Professor Sukolov at the University of Moscow who also performed an autopsy.

Once preserved, Julia was dressed in a peasant folk dancing costume and her son was dressed in a sailor suit, positioned standing erect on a raised stand.

Lent continued to tour with Julia’s body and that of her 3 day old son.  He married another bearded woman named Zenora, whom he claimed was Julia’s sister and sometimes even Julia herself.

Apparently Lent had a mental breakdown and after throwing much of his fortune into a river, was committed to a Russian insane asylum. He was never heard of again.

Zenora continued to exhibit the remains, in part to prove that she was not Julia Pastrana.

Mover cursor over image for close-up view of a poster advertising the display of Julia and her child.