Go with the “Flo”

The circus was a haven for people who were considered to be the oddballs and misfits of society. Many people joined the circus as performers and created a close-knit chosen family that accepted them for who they were inside. That’s exactly what Albert “Flo” White did when he ran away from home as a kid and eventually joined the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. 

Flo the Clown (aka Albert White) is pictured on the left, standing next to fellow clown performer Gene Lewis. According to Deb Carson, White’s niece, he was able to express his identity by dressing as the female Flo during circus performances. This 1945 photograph shows how effortlessly Flo pulled off their look. The elegant top hat, amazing makeup, and one-of-a-kind costume were undoubtedly eye-catching to audiences across the US.