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People Share Their Incredible “Ugly Duckling” Transformations And It’s Hard To Believe They’re The Same People
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Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen published The Ugly Duckling in 1843, and a huge reason why the fairy tale is famous to this day is that of how relatable it is. It's a heartwarming story about personal transformation for the better, revolving around inner beauty just as much as it does around its outer counterpart when the duckling turns into a beautiful swan.
Now, no matter how pretty you might've been since the day you were born, we all go through that awkward stage in early puberty. The puberty stage when your body proportions might sadly relate to ones of a manatee. Pair it with a haircut enhancing none of your good features, add braces and some questionable fashion choices, and voila - you've got yourself something to be ashamed of years later. Luckily, when the body transformation is completed, a beautiful swan, just like from the Ugly Duckling, emerges.
To prove that the Longbottoming Syndrome (named after an actor from the Harry Potter series, Matthew Lewis) is an intrinsic part of life, people are sharing their personal before and after pics. Viewing these amazing photos, it's clear that you never know what time has prepared for you. Even though these late bloomers had to wait a little longer than others to grow into their looks fully, the results seem totally worth it. Scroll down to check out their stunning before-and-after images!
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I Must Say, Being An Ugly Duckling (Both Self-described And By The Perception Of Others) Made Me A Much Better Person Than I Might Have Been Had I Always Been "Pretty"
Taking The Cake On This One
I dont think the kid is ugly just because he is a bit chubby. He looks like a creative boy. Cute kid! Handsome man!
My Sister, Before And After
Puberty Hits
This guy reminds me of the famous Neville Longbottom transformation :-) I don't know but they kind of look alike. :-) Both handsome now o:-)
So This Is Me In 8th Grade And This Is Me Now As A Senior
Freshman 20 And 3 Years Later
The Before Vs. The After. I Feel Like I've Improved A Bit
Me Age 15 And Me Age 21
Congratulations on beating your acne. I know how painful and hard to control it is.
People From High School Usually Recognize Me Just Enough To Ask If I Have A Younger Brother
Still Don't Think I'm Quite Over The Syndrome, But I Do Know I'm Heaps Better
My Prepubescent Grandma-esque Appearance Is Still The Butt Of Many Jokes From Friends And Family Today
I Went Through A Mega-Awkward Stage
Man, I Was Good Looking
Who Would Have Thought That First Guy Would Ever Reproduce
Before, Depressed, In The Closet, Overweight And After, Doing My Thing In Chicago
Here's Me Then; Shy, Socially Awkward, Big Eared And Unlucky With The Ladies And Here's Me Now; Shy, Socially Awkward, Big Eared And Unlucky With The Ladies
I Think I Got Less Creepy Over Time
"It took you 12 minutes to get home. Google Maps said it would take 8. WHO IS SHE?"
Took About 8 Years Of Not Being A B*tch But I Think Things Turned Out Okay
How I Looked At The Start Of 2006 And That's Me At The End Of 2011
Needless To Say, Middle School Was A Rough Time
It was rough for pretty much everbody regardless of how "cool" they looked from other kid's perspectives. Adolescence sucks.
Three Ugly Ducklings Then And Three Full Fledged Geese Now
Before And After
Myself At The Wonderful, And Never Awkward, Age Of 15. And Here's Me 6 Years Later At 21 Years Old. Perhaps It Wasn't "Ugly Duckling," As Much As It Was "Kind Of Overweight Duckling."
I Don't Think I'm Anything Special Now But The Before Picture Cracks Me Up
25 Years Of Transformation...dear Teens, You're Fine Just As You Are!
I like his caption. The rest of these people are killing me with the hypercritical negativity towards themselves as children.
Ugly As F*ck Duckling Vs. Now
I Really Can't Explain The Quote. I Had A Profound Admiration For Antionio Banderas
I Was Always The "Ugly" Friend And Never Had Guys Like Me Until Years After High School. I Had Cystic Acne Since Age 13 And Was Bullied Immensely In High School
Before And After
All this makes me sad. Everyone is awkward looking going through puberty. Each and every one of you are pretty/handsome before and after. You just needed to find your style.
A Sad Insecure Girl Into A Happy Less Insecure Woman
The First Pic Is Me In The Swimsuit, Playing Some Game At Summer Camp, WEARING MY HEADGEAR. Goddamn I Was Devoted To Wearing That Shit 20 Hours A Day. Major Loser. Then, After Some Awkward, Fat, Lesbian, Weird-hair Phases, We Arrive At The Second Picture
2nd picture looks pretty, but the self-loathing in the caption is awful. Lesbian shouldn't be a negative word either. Good grief.
I Cringe At My Before Picture. What A Handful Of Years Can Do
3rd Grade Vs. Senior Year
She was cute as a child. I find it sad that a lot of these seem to portray looking "childlike" is ugly.
I'm Still Really Awkward And Make Idiotic Faces In Most Of My Pictures But At Least I Have Boobs Now
Well you pretty much admitted to this awkwardness thing being entirely under your control... ;-) As for "I have boobs now", I realize the American ideal is all "curves and big boobs", but it's an arbitrary standard, has no universality (attractiveness is subjective, and there is plenty of variety in tastes), and small breasts are not a bad thing whatsoever.
My Own Transformation - From Fat Bastard To Marathon Runner In Just 4 Years...
I Had A Rough Childhood
I think she wasn't ugly. I think she is quite cute in her childhood pic. She turned into beautiful young lady. Nice hair :-)
2008/2016
I Had To Wear Headgear At Night/braces/other Dental Things Because My Teeth Were So Bad, And I'm Pretty Sure I Had A Moustache At The Time The First Picture Was Taken
13 Yo Vs 28 Yo
Before When I Was 12, Nowadays At 22
