Susana Monroy, a bearded lady, wishes to wholeheartedly thank the Lord of Araro because she’s been performing in the Huandacareo circus for more over 20 years. Her children, all famous clowns and acrobats, were born here. She met her love here as well—the Taquito clown with whom she visited distant places of the Republic and Central America.

Huandacareo, Michoacan, 1967

Almost all women in our family have beards. That’s why my sister and I grew up as circus freaks and married ugly men. We got tired of our destiny and began to perform as dancers. We shaved, we divorced, and we have great success. We thank the Virgin of San Juan.

Jalisco, 1962

The monkey tugged my beard when Saint Lazarus appeared to tame this beast. I thank with this exvoto. I, the Bearded woman of the circus.

Bonifacio Chavez was about to take a bath and went to turn the boiler up. But since he was a little bit drunk, he got distracted and the flame hit him in the face. He got his beard burned. He thank Saint Nicholas for not burning his eyes.

Almost all women in our family have beards. That’s why my sister and I thought that we were going to be circus phenomenons until we retire and then we would marry weird ugly men like our aunts did. Our circus routine had a big success because besides wearing beards we were very cute and funny. But we weren’t happy. One day thank to the Virgin of San Juan we found out about depilation. We got rid of our beards and married handsome men. We do not work in circus anymore.

I thank the Holy Child of Prague because since I found out this cute hat—which, as I was told, had been made either in Denmark or Australia—my life has changed. I bought eyeglasses in tortoise shell, a black frock coat with an emblem, then I grew a beard and always wear the same shirt and a strap. Now I look like a college professor or a lawyer.

Agustin A. was very frustrated because he had no beard. He prayed a lot to Saint Jude Thaddeus, and the beard started growing. It was growing so plentiful, so he even began to shave it. He brings this retablo thanking for such an enormous favor.

Carlos Mendez thanks Saint Pancras with this retablo for the fulfillment of his desire to have a large beard. Now many people are jealous of him.