Born in Martinique around 1860, Blanche Dumas drew crowds by appearing nude in freak shows and allegedly went on to become a renowned sex worker in Paris.
Collection of the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of PhiladelphiaBlanche Dumas circa 1880.
In the 19th century, “freak shows” captured the attention of curious onlookers around the world. Many circuses and traveling carnivals showcased people who’d been born with unusual physical features — and one of the most famous was Blanche Dumas.
Born in Martinique around 1860, Dumas had a condition called dipygus, which caused her body to duplicate below the pelvis. She had three legs and two sets of genitals, and some accounts even claim she had four breasts, though two of them may have been the remnants of additional appendages that were amputated when she was young.
Despite Dumas’ fame, not much can be confirmed about her life. There are rumors that she went on to become a renowned sex worker in Paris, where she earned the nickname the “Three-Legged Courtesan,” though this has never been confirmed.
But while her true story may be shrouded in mystery, Blanche Dumas continues to intrigue people more than a century after her death.
Blanche Dumas’ Curious Condition
So little is known about Blanche Dumas that nobody is even sure when she was born on the Caribbean island of Martinique. It was likely sometime in the 1860s, and it’s generally agreed that her father was French and her mother was of African descent.
She was born with a congenital condition called dipygus, which is an incredibly rare birth defect. It typically manifests as the duplication of parts of the body or malformations in areas of the body near or below the lower half of the spine.
Public DomainMyrtle Corbin was another famous sideshow performer with dipygus, which gave her four legs.
The exact cause of dipygus is unknown, but one theory is that the disorder stems from the incomplete separation of twin embryos.
The 1896 book Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Dr. George M. Gould and Dr. Walter L. Pyle documented that Blanche Dumas had “a very broad pelvis, two imperfectly developed legs, and a supernumerary limb attached to the symphysis, without a joint, but with slight passive movement.”
Gould and Pyle also noted that Dumas had “a duplication of bowel, bladder, and genitalia” and “two rudimentary mammary glands, each containing a nipple” near her partial third leg.
However, the doctors also wrote of another woman born on Martinique who was “possibly the same” as Blanche Dumas:
“There was a third leg attached to a continuation of the processus coceygeus of the sacrum, and in addition to well developed mammae regularly situated, there were two rudimentary ones close together above the pubes. There were two vaginae and two well-developed vulvae, both having equally developed sensations. The sexual appetite was markedly developed, and coitus was practised in both vaginae.”
Since the population of Martinique was only about 160,000 in the mid-19th century, it seems unlikely that two young women with remarkably similar birth defects — especially those caused by such a rare condition — would have been living there at the same time. The small size of the island also likely contributed to the quick spread of the word of Dumas’ condition.
When she was in her 20s, Dumas was approached by a “freak hunter” who sought out interesting people to add to a roster of various circuses, exhibitions, and carnivals. She seemingly agreed to appear in these sideshows for a few years — but she’s perhaps more infamous for her life outside of the limelight.
The Rise Of The ‘Three-Legged Courtesan’
In the late 19th century, Blanche Dumas reportedly moved to Paris, where she may have become a sex worker. There, she met Juan Baptista Dos Santos, a man from Portugal who was known for a similar anatomical curiosity.
He had made a name for himself during the height of the “freak” fascination, just as Dumas had. He was known for having two fully formed — and supposedly fully functional — penises.
Public DomainPhotographs of Blanche Dumas that showcase her unique anatomy.
Dos Santos reportedly didn’t shy away from his condition. He proudly worked in medical circuses and sideshows, where he was exhibited for his unique appearance. Some sources suggest that Dos Santos was the one who introduced Dumas to the world of entertainment, but there is no historical evidence to back this up. In fact, it’s more likely that the two didn’t meet until Dumas was already appearing in sideshows — or even as a courtesan.
Indeed, it was as a sex worker that Blanche Dumas was branded the “Three-Legged Courtesan.” She was supposedly well-known in Paris for utilizing both of her vaginas. However, this may have been a sensationalized rumor. There is no proof that she was ever a courtesan at all. In fact, there are hardly any historical records about Dumas. So, why has she remained a fascinating figure for generations?
The Sensationalized Tales Of Blanche Dumas
Unsurprisingly, many tales about Blanche Dumas concern her sex life. Since it was widely reported that she became a courtesan, the subject of her sexual history has long made headlines.
Online articles about Dumas perpetuate rumors about the unique ways that she fulfilled the desires of her clients. Some even claim that she and Dos Santos had a sexual relationship. However, there is no documentation to suggest that the two were anything other than friends or even just peers within the sideshow industry.
Public DomainA diagram from a 1902 booklet called New Ideas in Magic showing how to create a “three-legged” woman.
In reality, we know very little about Blanche Dumas’ personal life, including her sexual history. Yet, just as when she was alive, her medical condition continues to spark perverse rumors and sensational tales.
It’s unknown exactly when or how Dumas died. Still, her legacy lives on, primarily in the form of curiosity and speculation. There are many aspects of Blanche Dumas’ life that remain a mystery — and they will likely never be uncovered.
After reading about the life of Blanche Dumas, look through these vintage photos of sideshow performers. Then, discover the stories of these nine famous freak show members.
