Sidonia de Barcsy

Sidonia de Barcsy (March 1, 1866–July 31, 1925) was a Hungarian baroness and bearded lady. She grew a beard after the birth of her first son, and performed in Western Europe and America.

Biography

At the age of eighteen, de Barcsy gave birth to her only son, Nicu. Two weeks later, she began to grow a beard, a development which her doctor initially concealed from her.

Around 1890, de Barcsy's husband, Antonio, became impoverished, and the family began performing in Western Europe as a traveling troupe. Sidonia was advertised as a bearded lady; Nicu, who would reach an adult height of less than a meter, was displayed as "The smallest Perfect Man on Earth"; and Antonio performed as a strongman. including the Hagenbeck-Wallace and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses. Tischer eventually abandoned de Barcsy, who died on 19 October 1925.