ABSTRACT
Bernice Collins has led an eclectic career in the circus, but it all began with clown. After being the very first black woman to graduate from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, Collins got her footing in the circus world as a clown for two years, becoming a role model for a generation of circus performers who came after. She was mentored by clowns such as Prince Paul and the King Charles Troupe. Collins, however, wanted to become a showgirl, and transitioned into many other roles in the circus during her extensive career, including a brief stint as a lion tamer under the guidance of the famed Charly Baumann.
