Susie - elephant girl (5 photos)

The female psyche is structured in such a way that the more beautiful a girl is in appearance, the more pleasure and ease she demonstrates herself and her body to the world.





But there are exceptions - strange and rare diseases that force you to show your peculiarity in order to earn a living.



Manifestation of ichthyosis

Etymologically, ichthyosis refers to the Greek word for fish, but most people suffering from this skin disease primarily use the epithet alligator. However, the baby's skin was especially thick and cracked, and the caustic name "elephant skin" seemed more appropriate and descriptive.



Although accounts vary, Susie was most likely born in 1909 in the western part of Berlin. Her name was Charlotte Corje. In early childhood, Susie's ichthyosis manifested itself very actively, and the girl's skin quickly thickened, turned gray and cracked, visually acquiring the appearance of an elephant.

Because of her condition, the girl experienced severe physical pain every second. Her pain was aggravated by numerous infections, when pathogens penetrated into the deep cracks that formed in the skin even from the slightest movements. In the first years of her life, Susie could not even blink an eye without risking painful cracks.



In addition to physical pain, the poor girl also experienced emotional pain, as she was the object of constant ridicule from her peers. In the summer heat, while other children were frolicking in the water, the girl rubbed her hands with ice, trying to cool down. Because due to the condition of her skin, she couldn’t even sweat normally. When the children pointed at her and laughed, she did not cry, but only clenched her teeth tighter. Her condition deprived her of even this ability - the luxury of giving free rein to tears.

Susie's parents, trying to make their daughter's condition and life easier and prevent the possibility of infection, generously lubricated her with oil and moisturizer every day. As they grew, they began to gently exfoliate pieces of skin on their faces every day. Gradually, the skin became more elastic and the complexion improved. The girl began to look quite attractive, but she had to undergo these painful procedures every day for the rest of her life.

The girl first came to the United States in 1927 as part of a troupe consisting of a giantess and a bearded lady, and subsequently visited the United States several times. Together with her manager, she left Germany for the United States to escape the impending war and settled in an apartment on New York's West Side. While living in New York, Susie often exhibited at Coney Island and worked at Madison Square Garden for the Ringling Show in 1967.



According to contemporaries, Susie was a shy, reserved and modest woman who preferred to stay in the shadows and tried to attract a minimum of attention during performances.

In the late 1960s, her manager died. With his death, Susie's career ended. Her last public performance was at the Great Allentown Fair in Pennsylvania as the sole performer in an act called "Swamp Girl."

According to some sources, the elephant woman ended her public career and returned to Germany, and according to others, she died in New York in 1975.