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!

#1

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"

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"

SexierThanMeiosis Report

#2

So Much Can Change In Few Years

So Much Can Change In Few Years

hayabusabjj Report

#3

Taking The Cake On This One

Taking The Cake On This One

assilemcl Report

Anne Bustyvel
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont think the kid is ugly just because he is a bit chubby. He looks like a creative boy. Cute kid! Handsome man!

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#4

My Sister, Before And After

My Sister, Before And After

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#5

Oh, I So Got This One

Oh, I So Got This One

all_the_bacon Report

#6

Here's Freshman Year Of College (17) Vs. Now (25)

Here's Freshman Year Of College (17) Vs. Now (25)

Nubington_Bear Report

#7

Puberty Hits

Puberty Hits

genpub Report

Ronja Rövardotter
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guy reminds me of the famous Neville Longbottom transformation :-) I don't know but they kind of look alike. :-) Both handsome now o:-)

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#8

So This Is Me In 8th Grade And This Is Me Now As A Senior

So This Is Me In 8th Grade And This Is Me Now As A Senior

CalvinGFX Report

#9

Holy Freckles Batman

Holy Freckles Batman

deleted Report

#10

Freshman 20 And 3 Years Later

Freshman 20 And 3 Years Later

Spiderdan Report

#12

The Before Vs. The After. I Feel Like I've Improved A Bit

The Before Vs. The After. I Feel Like I've Improved A Bit

pottymouthgrl Report

Marie-claude Favier
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty. She just grew into her nose, teeth and ears ..!

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#13

Me Age 15 And Me Age 21

Me Age 15 And Me Age 21

solman07 Report

Bridgette David
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Congratulations on beating your acne. I know how painful and hard to control it is.

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#14

People From High School Usually Recognize Me Just Enough To Ask If I Have A Younger Brother

People From High School Usually Recognize Me Just Enough To Ask If I Have A Younger Brother

brucewaynebtmn Report

#15

Still Don't Think I'm Quite Over The Syndrome, But I Do Know I'm Heaps Better

Still Don't Think I'm Quite Over The Syndrome, But I Do Know I'm Heaps Better

deleted Report

#16

My Prepubescent Grandma-esque Appearance Is Still The Butt Of Many Jokes From Friends And Family Today

My Prepubescent Grandma-esque Appearance Is Still The Butt Of Many Jokes From Friends And Family Today

carrotsxyum Report

#17

Me In Grade 9 Vs. This Summer At My Cousin's Wedding

Me In Grade 9 Vs. This Summer At My Cousin's Wedding

For_The_Lazy85 Report

#18

I Went Through A Mega-Awkward Stage

I Went Through A Mega-Awkward Stage

teaandsmiles Report

#19

Man, I Was Good Looking

Man, I Was Good Looking

Vroomvroomnoise Report

#20

Bowl Cut + No Eyelashes + Lipstick On A 1st Grader

Bowl Cut + No Eyelashes + Lipstick On A 1st Grader

Horsebalm Report

#21

Me At 13, And Again At 22

Me At 13, And Again At 22

frogstomp427 Report

Olivia W
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

13?! He looks 15 in that picture. But a great transformation

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#22

Who Would Have Thought That First Guy Would Ever Reproduce

Who Would Have Thought That First Guy Would Ever Reproduce

nair88 Report

Psotny Puk
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That caption made me laugh, congrats on your baby! <3

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#23

Before, Depressed, In The Closet, Overweight And After, Doing My Thing In Chicago

Before, Depressed, In The Closet, Overweight And After, Doing My Thing In Chicago

anewearth Report

#24

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

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

epro1 Report

#25

Chubby Kid With Afro Vs. After

Chubby Kid With Afro Vs. After

deckoturf Report

#26

I Got This

I Got This

macabea Report

Daria B
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dash. You either know nothing, or you hang out specifically in those places where you don't really trick them, you just pay them, so it's more like they trick you... Greetings from S. Korea. ♥

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#27

1999, 2005 And Now

1999, 2005 And Now

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#28

I Think I Got Less Creepy Over Time

I Think I Got Less Creepy Over Time

LainaOAG Report

Skunk Drunk
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"It took you 12 minutes to get home. Google Maps said it would take 8. WHO IS SHE?"

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#29

Took About 8 Years Of Not Being A B*tch But I Think Things Turned Out Okay

Took About 8 Years Of Not Being A B*tch But I Think Things Turned Out Okay

JMjustme Report

AcousticGString
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Took 8 years of not being a bitch?" What does that even mean?

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#30

How I Looked At The Start Of 2006 And That's Me At The End Of 2011

How I Looked At The Start Of 2006 And That's Me At The End Of 2011

_arctic Report

#31

Needless To Say, Middle School Was A Rough Time

Needless To Say, Middle School Was A Rough Time

gingerduckling Report

Bridgette David
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was rough for pretty much everbody regardless of how "cool" they looked from other kid's perspectives. Adolescence sucks.

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#32

Three Ugly Ducklings Then And Three Full Fledged Geese Now

Three Ugly Ducklings Then And Three Full Fledged Geese Now

Thediepend Report

#33

Before And After

Before And After

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#34

It Took Me Some Time To Finally Become A Man!

It Took Me Some Time To Finally Become A Man!

swizzlebeatz Report

#35

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."

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."

BT278 Report

#36

I Don't Think I'm Anything Special Now But The Before Picture Cracks Me Up

I Don't Think I'm Anything Special Now But The Before Picture Cracks Me Up

jbjr3 Report

#37

25 Years Of Transformation...dear Teens, You're Fine Just As You Are!

25 Years Of Transformation...dear Teens, You're Fine Just As You Are!

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jacluckycat
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like his caption. The rest of these people are killing me with the hypercritical negativity towards themselves as children.

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#38

Here's Me At About 14 And Here I Am A Few Months Ago

Here's Me At About 14 And Here I Am A Few Months Ago

kresnick Report

#39

Ugly As F*ck Duckling Vs. Now

Ugly As F*ck Duckling Vs. Now

TheRoyalRedditbaum Report

#40

Middle School Vs. Now

Middle School Vs. Now

saranwrapper Report

Psotny Puk
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that is a lovely smile you have! <3

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#41

First Pic (fat One) Grade 9. Second Is First Year University

First Pic (fat One) Grade 9. Second Is First Year University

deleted Report

Jace
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see two photos, not three. Anyway, good work on taking charge of your physique.

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#42

I Really Can't Explain The Quote. I Had A Profound Admiration For Antionio Banderas

I Really Can't Explain The Quote. I Had A Profound Admiration For Antionio Banderas

mokeskin34 Report

#43

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

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

jeannaxoxo Report

#44

5 Years Ago Vs 6 Months Ago...

5 Years Ago Vs 6 Months Ago...

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Jace
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You reimagined yourself as an anime character ;-)

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#45

Before And After

Before And After

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Emily Whittaker
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#46

A Sad Insecure Girl Into A Happy Less Insecure Woman

A Sad Insecure Girl Into A Happy Less Insecure Woman

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#47

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

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

deleted Report

Amanda Jayne
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

2nd picture looks pretty, but the self-loathing in the caption is awful. Lesbian shouldn't be a negative word either. Good grief.

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#48

I Cringe At My Before Picture. What A Handful Of Years Can Do

I Cringe At My Before Picture. What A Handful Of Years Can Do

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#49

So This Is Before In High School And This Is Me Now

So This Is Before In High School And This Is Me Now

ref_21 Report

#50

3rd Grade Vs. Senior Year

3rd Grade Vs. Senior Year

Lilyrose1024 Report

E Menendez
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was cute as a child. I find it sad that a lot of these seem to portray looking "childlike" is ugly.

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#51

I'm Still Really Awkward And Make Idiotic Faces In Most Of My Pictures But At Least I Have Boobs Now

I'm Still Really Awkward And Make Idiotic Faces In Most Of My Pictures But At Least I Have Boobs Now

cmplsvovereverything Report

Jace
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#52

My Own Transformation - From Fat Bastard To Marathon Runner In Just 4 Years...

My Own Transformation - From Fat Bastard To Marathon Runner In Just 4 Years...

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Jace
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Congratulations on taking control of your physique. Try not to be so harsh on yourself, though.

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#53

I Had A Rough Childhood

I Had A Rough Childhood

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Ronja Rövardotter
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think she wasn't ugly. I think she is quite cute in her childhood pic. She turned into beautiful young lady. Nice hair :-)

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#55

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

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

lucy071 Report

Jace
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photo doesn't strike me as ugly