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We live in a world where looks are often seen as a twisted currency. With so much fakery fueled by unrealistic standards on social media, it’s becoming hard to see real beauty. And unlike heavily staged and edited allure, natural appeal is always changing, transforming, enriching itself with experiences, ups and downs. In this sense, it’s more about the journey of feeling good in your skin than the actual result.

And what could better illustrate that than photos from real people who fought hard (or did nothing!) to love themselves fully and are proud about it. Thanks to the subreddit “Ugly Duckling,” which has people sharing how they turned into beautiful swans, we now have a bunch of people to cheer for.

After you’re done, be sure to check out more incredibly wholesome transformations in our previous posts here, here, and here. Just remember that glowing up differs for everyone, and that we are all beautiful in our own perfectly imperfect ways.

#1

Today I Weighed Myself And I've Lost A Total Of 221 Pounds. Sitting At 179. I Don't Have Any Friends So No One To Share It With So I'm Sharing It Here Lol. Have A Wonderful Night

Today I Weighed Myself And I've Lost A Total Of 221 Pounds. Sitting At 179. I Don't Have Any Friends So No One To Share It With So I'm Sharing It Here Lol. Have A Wonderful Night

CloudyOne420 Report

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Raine Soo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Congratulations on the weight loss! You have a good night as well.

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#3

A Slightly Bigger Change Then Your Average Glow Up For Sure, But I'm Still Happy Where I Am Now

A Slightly Bigger Change Then Your Average Glow Up For Sure, But I'm Still Happy Where I Am Now

Maximellow Report

Being an ugly duckling, which takes its name from Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, refers to glowing up and developing into an attractive and successful person as opposed to what one has been before in their early days.

But even though it indeed shows how empowering blossoming can be, the message of being “an ugly duckling” also has some inherent flaws. Because it’s based on the idea that beauty is “malleable,” it focuses on the improvement of looks that can further escalate your self-worth and self-image. The idea of transforming one’s beauty has infiltrated our society with glossy magazine covers, advertising, and social media.

#4

15>18 - I'd Like To Thank My Mother, My Father And Whoever My Mother Had An Affair With 19 Years Ago Cuz I Did Not Get That Jawline From My Dad

15>18 - I'd Like To Thank My Mother, My Father And Whoever My Mother Had An Affair With 19 Years Ago Cuz I Did Not Get That Jawline From My Dad

Gottigottigotti22 Report

#5

22 vs. 27 Appearance May Have Change But Personality Has Always Stayed The Same

22 vs. 27 Appearance May Have Change But Personality Has Always Stayed The Same

Baklau Report

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Susan Green
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having a good personality is the most important thing overall. You do look great though.

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#6

13 To 26 I Still Do My Own Hair Cuts But I Think They’re A Little Better Now

13 To 26 I Still Do My Own Hair Cuts But I Think They’re A Little Better Now

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Melissa Burkley, a psychology professor and book author, writes on Psychology Today: “This message that less attractive girls can become beautiful is also commonly seen in movies (She’s All That and Never Been Kissed) and celebrity magazine interviews with the likes of Eva Longoria (Allure, 2006), Beyoncé (Glamour, 2009), and Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Harper’s Bazaar UK, 2011).”

#7

10 To 20! My Nickname Used To Be Called ‘Uglie’

10 To 20! My Nickname Used To Be Called ‘Uglie’

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#9

14-24. When Puberty Hits You Like A Train

14-24. When Puberty Hits You Like A Train

Air-Constant Report

According to Melissa, “The problem here is that in modern society, beauty is an overly idealized and largely unattainable goal for most women. With enough effort and persistence, nearly anyone can earn good grades in school. But no amount of effort or persistence can turn the typical woman into the photoshopped, unrealistically perfect beauty images they see every day in advertisements, movies, and magazines.”

#11

I Struggled With Bipolar Disorder II For The Longest Time. The Meds Made Me Gain So Much Weight But As Of February Last Year, I’ve Been Medication-Free, With The Blessings Of My Doctor

I Struggled With Bipolar Disorder II For The Longest Time. The Meds Made Me Gain So Much Weight But As Of February Last Year, I’ve Been Medication-Free, With The Blessings Of My Doctor

mozakiiii Report

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Melissa and her colleagues conducted several studies to see how the idea that beauty is malleable affects people’s physical and mental well-being: “in one study, we had people read a story that either highlighted (1) how beauty is malleable and changes significantly over the lifespan, (2) how beauty is fixed and doesn’t change much over the lifespan, or (3) a neutral story that had nothing to do with beauty.”

#13

16 To 22 - My Boyfriend Filled Out A Little

16 To 22 - My Boyfriend Filled Out A Little

AriaLayton Report

#15

Hi!! Me, 14 -> 21

Hi!! Me, 14 -> 21

Such_Ad_3122 Report

“We found that women who read the 'beauty is malleable' story later reported more anxiety about their appearance, were more likely to base their sense of self-worth on their appearance, and were more interested in getting plastic surgery than women who read the other two stories.” It turned out that the more people thought they can change the way they look, the more obsessed they became over their appearance up to a point that’s generally considered unhealthy.

#16

Our Styles Changed A Little

Our Styles Changed A Little

Raxen92 Report

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good day
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those photos look decades apart. Totally hot looks, guys.

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#18

[19 vs. 25] 85kgs Difference In Weight Between The Two Pictures. Who Knew I Had Some Decent Facial Features Underneath The Fat I Used To Carry. I'm Glad I Worked On Myself And My Physical Appearance

[19 vs. 25] 85kgs Difference In Weight Between The Two Pictures. Who Knew I Had Some Decent Facial Features Underneath The Fat I Used To Carry. I'm Glad I Worked On Myself And My Physical Appearance

throwaway94646 Report

#19

12 To 19 - I Do Not Miss The Bowl Cut

12 To 19 - I Do Not Miss The Bowl Cut

kzyang Report

#20

Still Working On Myself, But Time And Hygiene Can Do Wonders! I Was Wearing Makeup In The First Pic, And Not The Second. [15/2012 - 24/2021]

Still Working On Myself, But Time And Hygiene Can Do Wonders! I Was Wearing Makeup In The First Pic, And Not The Second. [15/2012 - 24/2021]

lavendarpaint Report

#21

Being The Youngest As A Teenager (17) I Always Felt Like I Lived In My Older Siblings Shadows, I’m Proud Of The Hard Working Man I’ve Grown To Become Today. (25)

Being The Youngest As A Teenager (17) I Always Felt Like I Lived In My Older Siblings Shadows, I’m Proud Of The Hard Working Man I’ve Grown To Become Today. (25)

ScarletEverdeenHD Report

#24

12 > 18 I Was Bullied At School For My Looks, Cried Every Day And Begged World To Give Me Another Face. I Was Kinda Cute Tho

12 > 18 I Was Bullied At School For My Looks, Cried Every Day And Begged World To Give Me Another Face. I Was Kinda Cute Tho

tx13bucks Report

#25

19-22, People Really Underestimate How Much The Gym Can Do For Your Face

19-22, People Really Underestimate How Much The Gym Can Do For Your Face

Greenface1998 Report

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

GOSH he is handsome as heck. Nice forearms too. I bet he gets a lot of attention.

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#26

19 vs. 30

19 vs. 30

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Raine Soo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that she was pretty at 19. She probably developed better makeup techniques over the years.

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#27

16 vs. 20 Is This A Glow Up?

16 vs. 20 Is This A Glow Up?

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Raine Soo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, this is a glow up. And, the right haircut can do wonders.

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#28

19 To 22, People Will Make You Feel Unworthy But You Have So Much Potential. I Promise

19 To 22, People Will Make You Feel Unworthy But You Have So Much Potential. I Promise

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#29

13 vs. 22

13 vs. 22

Knitcola Report

Note: this post originally had 48 images. It’s been shortened to the top 29 images based on user votes.