“Ape Woman” and “The Missing Link”
Among other genetic abnormalities, both “The Ape Woman” and “The Missing Link” were born with Hypertrichosis, a condition that causes an excess of hair to grow all over the body. Unlike Hirsutism, it affects both women and men. Julia Pastrana (above, left) was taken from Mexico to the USA, where she became a sideshow known as Ape Woman, Baboon Lady, Dog-faced Woman, Bear Woman, and The Nondescript, despite her cultured and charming way with audiences.
Krao Farini (right) was brought to England from Laos in 1882 to be shown as Darwin’s “missing link” at the Royal Aquarium in Westminster. Mr. Kaulitz-Jarlow did a ‘scientific’ study of Krao and described her as particularly ape-like, pointing to how much she resembled a gorilla.