Stephan Bibrowski, born in 1890 in Wilczogóra, Grójec County, Congress Poland, was widely recognized as Lionel the Lion-faced Man, a prominent figure in the world of sideshow performances. His entire body was covered in long hair, giving him the striking resemblance of a lion—a characteristic attributed to the rare condition known as hypertrichosis.

According to accounts, Bibrowski was born with 2.5 cm of hair covering his body. His mother, Benedetta, attributed this condition to an alleged lion attack on his father, Michael, which she claimed to have witnessed while she was pregnant with Stephan. Considering him an aberration, Benedetta relinquished her son to a German impresario named Sedlmayer when he was four years old. Sedlmayer bestowed upon him the stage name Lionel and began showcasing him across Europe.

As Lionel’s exhibition commenced, his hair continued to grow, reaching 20 cm on his face and approximately 10 cm elsewhere on his body. The only hairless areas were the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet. In 1901, Lionel embarked on a journey to the United States and joined the Barnum and Bailey Circus. He toured with the circus, occasionally returning to Europe.

Lionel’s act featured gymnastic displays, as well as interactions with people to showcase his gentle nature, which sharply contrasted with his appearance. In 1920, he settled in the United States, becoming a beloved attraction and eventually making New York City his home, where he became a familiar presence at Coney Island.

Towards the end of the 1920s, Lionel decided to retire from his sideshow career and relocated back to Germany. Unfortunately, he reportedly passed away from a heart attack in Berlin in 1932 at the age of forty-one. His legacy as Lionel the Lion-faced Man remains an intriguing and remarkable chapter in the history of sideshow performances.