The Top 10 Ugliest People in History: A Visual Chronicle

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some people are just universally considered unattractive. In this article, we explore the top 10 ugliest people in history and the story behind their appearance.

1. Charles II of Spain

Charles II of Spain was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire and a product of over 200 years of inbreeding within the Habsburg family. As a result, he suffered from a host of genetic disorders and deformities that made him one of the ugliest people in history. His face was misshapen, his jaw was severely underdeveloped, and his tongue was too large for his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak and eat.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow

Okay, we admit it. Gwyneth Paltrow is not one of the ugliest people in history. But her controversial claim that she is the reason yoga is popular in the West is enough to earn her a spot on this list.

3. Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was one of the most powerful and influential queens in British history, but she was also considered one of the ugliest. Her large nose, protruding chin, and thinning hair were a far cry from the conventional standards of beauty that were popular during her reign.

4. Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man

Joseph Merrick, also known as The Elephant Man, suffered from a rare genetic condition that caused his skin to thicken and his bones to deform. His appearance was so shocking that it caused people to stare and made him a freak show attraction. Despite this, Merrick was known for his kindness and intelligence, and his story inspired several books and movies, including the critically acclaimed The Elephant Man.

5. Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was considered one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood during her prime, but her looks changed drastically later in life. A botched facelift left her with a permanently surprised expression and her once-beautiful features were marred by the plastic surgery.

6. Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin was a Russian mystic and advisor to the Tsar’s family in the early 20th century. Despite his influential position, Rasputin was not known for his beauty. He had a large nose, bushy eyebrows, and a beard that he rarely groomed, making him one of the ugliest people of his time.

7. John Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth is best known for assassinating President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, but he was also known for his unattractive appearance. Booth had a crooked nose, bad teeth, and a receding hairline, making him far from a leading man.

8. Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff was a legendary horror actor and starred as Frankenstein’s monster in the 1931 film Frankenstein. While he may have been known for his scary performances, his appearance off-set was equally terrifying. Karloff had a deeply creased face, sunken eyes, and a forehead that looked like it had been hit by a truck.

9. Tycho Brahe

Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer in the 16th century who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. However, he was also known for his unsightly appearance, which included a prosthetic nose made of gold and silver that he wore after losing his original nose in a sword fight.

10. Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert is known as one of the greatest composers of the classical era, but he was not known for his good looks. He had a lopsided, asymmetrical face, with one eye lower than the other and a nose that looked like it had been broken several times.

Conclusion

While beauty may be subjective, these 10 individuals were considered some of the ugliest people in history. While some of them achieved great things despite their appearance, others were unfairly judged and ridiculed because of it. Either way, their stories serve as a reminder that we should never judge someone based on their looks.