Clémentine Delait was a lady who became famous for her thick beard and mustache. Although women like her were ridiculed at the time, she used her difference to her advantage. Delait eventually became rich thanks to this and became a literal celebrity at the beginning of the 20th century, writes europeana.eu.
Her story fascinates people to this day. How did it all begin?
Clementine Delait (née Clattaux) was born on March 5, 1865 in Chaumousey in eastern France. During her adolescence, a thick mustache began to appear on her face, and she gradually had lush hair on her chest, back, and arms. This excessive hair growth is called hypertrichosis.
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What is hypertrichosis?
It is a rare physical abnormality whose main characteristic is increased hair growth on the body. There are two predominant types of hypertrichosis, when the hair appears all over the body or when it is limited to certain areas. Hypertrichosis can be congenital (born at birth) or appear later in life.
There can be many causes, from side effects from medication to hormonal disorders, most commonly polycystic ovary syndrome.
Hypertrichosis is sometimes referred to as Ambras syndrome, after Ambras Castle, which houses a collection of curiosities, including portraits of people with hypertrichosis. It is also sometimes called "werewolf syndrome." Hypertrichosis is often confused with hirsutism (occurs only in women and is characterized by hair growth in areas typical of the male gender, such as the chest, abdomen, back, and face).
Walking attractions
In the past, these hormonal disorders were perceived very negatively. White women with mustaches were constantly asked about their gender to make sure they were really women, while black women were seen as evidence of human evolution from apes.
These ladies with hypertrichosis did not have an easy life. During the 19th century and early 20th century, their only option was to find employment in the circus, where they were displayed in a panopticon as attractions, just like other people with physical differences.
Clémentine Delait came to see one such sideshow or freakshow with her husband. However, the mustaches of the ladies present did not impress her at all. She declared that she too would stop shaving and grow a proper beard. It was a bet with her husband, which ultimately turned out to be an excellent marketing move.
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The famous cafe at the bearded woman's
In 1885, Clémentine and her husband, a baker by profession, founded a café in Thjaon-les-Vosges. It was originally called the Delaitov Café, but it became much more popular when it was renamed the Bearded Woman Café. Since then, they have never had a shortage of customers.
The aforementioned bet was a great attraction for visitors. Clémentine was a rebel not only because she succeeded with a mustache in places other than the circus, but also In 1904, she even received permission from the authorities to wear men's clothing. This is how Clémentine also took a famous series of photographs in which she presented herself as both a woman and a man.
Bearded and happy
After the war, the Delaits adopted a little girl, Fernande, whose parents had died during the Spanish flu. Clémentine gradually became an international star and received an offer from PT Barnum to join his famous circus. However, like many others before her, she turned down this offer and decided to take care of her husband, who suffered from severe rheumatism.
The bearded lady traveled throughout Europe and met many famous people and top state officials.
When she was widowed in 1928, she opened a bar where she began performing in cabaret shows. Clémentine Delait died on April 5, 1939, at the age of 74. Her tombstone reads as she wished: Here lies Clémentine Delait, a bearded woman. An exceptional lady who was ahead of her time and already proved to the world that being different does not mean being worse or inferior.