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Everyone had their fair share of blunder years and whether we like it or not, there are still pieces of evidence hiding deep in the dusty shelves at your parents’ house. No one dares to touch it, and you’re not allowed to reclaim those photos.
But while people change, some change beyond recognition, pushing their genes, spirits and good looks up to the very max. Known as ‘ugly duckling’ transformations, these before and after photos serve as a testament to the beauty of change. And although it takes persistence and hard work, demands sacrifices and invites you into a battle with your inner demons, the final result seems worth it when you see people smile in their eyes.
So no, it’s not quite like growing out of your blunder years, it’s figuring out how to unite your inner and outer worlds and become the person who you really are. Psst! More inspiring posts on ugly ducklings-turned swans are waiting here, here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
32 vs. 37. 75 Lbs Lost, Picked Up A Skincare Routine, Brushed Up My Makeup Skills, Cut My Hair, Got Some Bangs, Still Working On Getting Some More Confidence You Can Glow Up At Any Age!
#2
18 - 23 Went Through A Weightloss Journey And Learnt How To Look After And Groom Myself
#3
Me At 13 vs. Me At 27 Do I Belong Here?
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 many people grew up with the idea of being an “ugly duckling” when they were kids and for some, it still follows them into their adult life.
#4
Depressed, Lost, Demotivated Because Of Chronic Tinnitus And Hearing Loss, But I've Decided To Take Things In Hand And Make It Better, Here I Am After 4 Months Of Transformation Journey.. Still Got Miles To Go
Jennifer lackey 3 years ago
DAAAAMMNNNN. ..... YOU ARE LOOKING GREAT. I love how u said u were taking matters into ur hands, I wish I wouldve so many years ago.. I'm 62, & not to happy with my life. Pat ur self on the back my friend, GOOD U YOU ..
#5
Me At 25, College Dropout, Living In My Car vs. Me At 33, About To Finish My Phd!
Aroace tiger (any pronouns) 3 years ago
I think its the lighting that "changed" the skin colour
Load More Replies...
Jill Taylor 3 years ago
The most recent picture is on the left, not the right. His hair did not magically grow back. If you look closely, he is standing in front of a poster of his research.
#6
Maybe Not As Drastic As Others Here, But I Feel Like I’ve Had A Bit Of A Glow Up (2012-Present)
As a result, even if this is a positive and celebrated transformation, many people can suffer lasting emotional effects. For example, ugly duckling syndrome can be a reason why so many of us can’t take compliments and see stares from people of the opposite sex as insults.
Moreover, those who have ever seen themselves as ugly ducklings can struggle to realize the power of their natural beauty. Most importantly, people who glowed up later in their lives are now much more likely to judge a book by what’s inside rather than its cover. Appreciation of inner beauty is a beautiful thing that enriches humans in profound ways.
#7
First Picture 19f, Second One 22f, Third One 23f. Farewell To 4~ Years Of Depression And Excess Weight!
#8
15 vs. 21
#9
13 vs. 26 I Just Don't Know What To Say
Sarcastic Cow 3 years ago (edited)
You were a cute child back then! Now you´re a woman -that is completely different story.
#10
10 To 20 To 30. Thank Goodness I Found Some Better Glasses & Stopped With The Rawr Hand
#11
19 To 23. Therapy And Excersice Certainly Made A Change Mentally And Physically. Still Struggling With Confidence And Selflove But All Good Things Take Time. Slow And Steady
#12
13 To 29 - Puberty Helped Me Out
#13
Dropped 73lbs And Picked Up 65
#14
10,18, 29~ A Lot Has Changed Every Eight Years
#15
16-20 Been Battling With Self Hate And Depression For Years, 2020 Was The Year I Wanted To Look After Myself
#16
When Puberty Hits You Like A Bus…
#17
18-28. It’s Been A Long Road
#18
12 To 20, A Lot Changed Along The Way, I’m Glad To Be Where I’m At Now
#19
13-26 Improved My Style Ever So Slightly
Laura Dawson 3 years ago
You look like a girl on 90 day fiancé she was Colts second wife. I can’t remember her name but she had an amazing accent & loved cats.
#20
18/19 vs. 21! One Of My Proudest Achievements
#21
(12, 19, 20) I Was Always Self Conscious About How I Looked
#22
13 To 30. Middle School Sucked
#23
18 To 25
Sarcastic Cow 3 years ago (edited)
Left - Oscar Wilde, love it. Right - James Potter - definitely love it.
#24
17//20 I'm Happier And Healthier Now. Can't Believe That Was Me Tho
#25
Finally Let The Hair Curl. Did A Lot
Niki Norway 3 years ago
Okay, it's been about ten minutes now, I think it's time to stop staring at this picture.
#26
12 And 26 - I Was Pretty Cool Back Then Tho
#27
Last Week vs. Today
#28
14 To 22.... I'll Never Forget How Much I Thought I Rocked That Bow
#29
12 - 23 Years - What A Wild Ride!
![[17-21] Those Glasses Did Not Suit Me](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/before-after-ugly-duckling-transformation-9-60dae0d3807ee__700.jpg "[17-21] Those Glasses Did Not Suit Me")
![Time Really Does Fly [2017 - 2021]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/before-after-ugly-duckling-transformation-10-60dae1424e707__700.jpg "Time Really Does Fly [2017 - 2021]")
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What do you think ?
1337 3 years ago
Exactly. Let kids be kids. We have enough of pressure down to young ages..
Load More Replies... COCO puff 3 years ago
why are people calling themselves "ugly ducklings" "ugly swans" "ugly" in general, its such a lack of empowerment. We are beautiful in every photo, in every stage of our lives. Come on people stop with the self-shaming!
Ozacoter 3 years ago
I agree. These posts only contribute to the general body shaming and preassure that people feel all the time. Its telling you that you are not good enough. That you are fat, not muscular, nor pretty enough. That you need x hair cut or style, you need makeup or surgery, you need expensive clothes.
Load More Replies...
Kayla J 3 years ago
I always feel some sort of way when I read these as "Ugly Ducklings" and realize I never had one of these "glow ups".
Kristen Bellefeuille 2 years ago
Agreed, I feel I look just as awkward now aa when I was a kid, I have lost a bit of weight since then due to health issues but nothing this drastic
Load More Replies...
Indra Servo 3 years ago
Moral of the story : "pretty people with bad haircut became pretty people with good haircut after visiting hairdresser"
Ozacoter 3 years ago
And after getting tons of makeup, surgery (like the guy with hair implants) and expensive clothing
Load More Replies...
Annamagelic 3 years ago
Just about everyone goes through an awkward adolescent phase. Most of these before photos were just perfectly normal kids. You are not suposed to look like an adult at 14.
Zedrapazia 3 years ago
None of these people was ugly before their "glow up". They are all fine the way they were.
Not Proud British 3 years ago
I stopped looking halfway through. Some of these posts were absolutely fine beforehand and I felt by looking I was encouraging them to keep losing weight, keep starving themselves, keep getting work done. Some of those who have lost weight did not need to lose weight and now look far too skinny. I think these kinds of posts encourage people to think they need to change how they look to fit in. There is an unhealthy balance going on here and I would urge Bored Panda not to publish these posts.
Rita Shapiro 3 years ago
The trope here is mildly disturbing. "Making the outside match the inside".... as if someone who can't afford laser eye surgery or chin liposuction, or who doesn't have the luxury of many hours to spend pumping iron, must just be "ugly" on the inside (or at least internally unattractive) because they wear glasses or don't have a six pack or whatever. Our value and beauty aren't derived from cosmetic attributes, but you wouldn't know this given these examples.
jaislndgrl 3 years ago
When are we going to get past the point of equating fat with ugly. Aargh, it's NOT the same thing. This just needs to be taken down. Being fat does not mean you're ugly. It just means you're FAT!! GD
Doctor Strange 3 years ago
Ah yes, the story of the ugly duckling, which teaches us that it doesn't matter if you aren't attractive now, as long as you become attractive later.
Hollar Cut 3 years ago
Let us continue to be persuaded that we are only lovable when we are different. Let us continue to be persuaded that it is not enough to be yourself. Let us continue to be persuaded that we will only be accepted if we have muscles, a beautiful complexion and a sexy buttocks. Let us continue to persuade ourselves that the soul, the inner life, the beauty of the spirit and the ability to see the beauty of the world do not matter. There's a simple reason why it doesn't really matter: it can't be marketed. Inner development has no market. It cannot be turned into money. It takes the courage and the clarity to accept yourself and not only see the beauty on the outside. The term "ugly ducklings" are marketing strategies and, in the worst case, are repeated by people who have not yet come to themselves. Do not let that confuse you. Be yourself. You don't need a ticket for this life. You have had it since you were born. In this sense: for the true, for the good, and for the really beautiful!
RadiatorAnkleSpider 3 years ago
This post is toxic… Anyone can look ugly one day and a model the next.
ivan bolitekurac 3 years ago
So weight loss,makeup,better clothes,better pictures,filters,more muscles and a more adult look helps?This must be the discovery of the century...
New Prometheus 3 years ago
Childish to look at oneself at 12 and 13 and compare with an adult in their 20s and 30s. Everybody looks awkward as teens/tweens. What, are they supposed to look like trendy adults now?
Auntriarch 3 years ago
I found the change from smiling to duckface pouting rather distasteful. And some of them, well the A-word
Anna McHugh 3 years ago
How come most of these are about people losing weight, when literally right up the page on Bored Panda is another article about a girl talking about how mean everyone is to her because she's lost the 'pretty privilege' for gaining some weight?
WorldNeedsReboot 3 years ago
Amazing what too much weight does to your mental and physical well being...
1337 3 years ago
Exactly. Let kids be kids. We have enough of pressure down to young ages..
Load More Replies... COCO puff 3 years ago
why are people calling themselves "ugly ducklings" "ugly swans" "ugly" in general, its such a lack of empowerment. We are beautiful in every photo, in every stage of our lives. Come on people stop with the self-shaming!
Ozacoter 3 years ago
I agree. These posts only contribute to the general body shaming and preassure that people feel all the time. Its telling you that you are not good enough. That you are fat, not muscular, nor pretty enough. That you need x hair cut or style, you need makeup or surgery, you need expensive clothes.
Load More Replies... Kayla J 3 years ago
I always feel some sort of way when I read these as "Ugly Ducklings" and realize I never had one of these "glow ups".
Kristen Bellefeuille 2 years ago
Agreed, I feel I look just as awkward now aa when I was a kid, I have lost a bit of weight since then due to health issues but nothing this drastic
Load More Replies... Indra Servo 3 years ago
Moral of the story : "pretty people with bad haircut became pretty people with good haircut after visiting hairdresser"
Ozacoter 3 years ago
And after getting tons of makeup, surgery (like the guy with hair implants) and expensive clothing
Load More Replies... Annamagelic 3 years ago
Just about everyone goes through an awkward adolescent phase. Most of these before photos were just perfectly normal kids. You are not suposed to look like an adult at 14.
Zedrapazia 3 years ago
None of these people was ugly before their "glow up". They are all fine the way they were.
Not Proud British 3 years ago
I stopped looking halfway through. Some of these posts were absolutely fine beforehand and I felt by looking I was encouraging them to keep losing weight, keep starving themselves, keep getting work done. Some of those who have lost weight did not need to lose weight and now look far too skinny. I think these kinds of posts encourage people to think they need to change how they look to fit in. There is an unhealthy balance going on here and I would urge Bored Panda not to publish these posts.
Rita Shapiro 3 years ago
The trope here is mildly disturbing. "Making the outside match the inside".... as if someone who can't afford laser eye surgery or chin liposuction, or who doesn't have the luxury of many hours to spend pumping iron, must just be "ugly" on the inside (or at least internally unattractive) because they wear glasses or don't have a six pack or whatever. Our value and beauty aren't derived from cosmetic attributes, but you wouldn't know this given these examples.
jaislndgrl 3 years ago
When are we going to get past the point of equating fat with ugly. Aargh, it's NOT the same thing. This just needs to be taken down. Being fat does not mean you're ugly. It just means you're FAT!! GD
Doctor Strange 3 years ago
Ah yes, the story of the ugly duckling, which teaches us that it doesn't matter if you aren't attractive now, as long as you become attractive later.
Hollar Cut 3 years ago
Let us continue to be persuaded that we are only lovable when we are different. Let us continue to be persuaded that it is not enough to be yourself. Let us continue to be persuaded that we will only be accepted if we have muscles, a beautiful complexion and a sexy buttocks. Let us continue to persuade ourselves that the soul, the inner life, the beauty of the spirit and the ability to see the beauty of the world do not matter. There's a simple reason why it doesn't really matter: it can't be marketed. Inner development has no market. It cannot be turned into money. It takes the courage and the clarity to accept yourself and not only see the beauty on the outside. The term "ugly ducklings" are marketing strategies and, in the worst case, are repeated by people who have not yet come to themselves. Do not let that confuse you. Be yourself. You don't need a ticket for this life. You have had it since you were born. In this sense: for the true, for the good, and for the really beautiful!
RadiatorAnkleSpider 3 years ago
This post is toxic… Anyone can look ugly one day and a model the next.
ivan bolitekurac 3 years ago
So weight loss,makeup,better clothes,better pictures,filters,more muscles and a more adult look helps?This must be the discovery of the century...
New Prometheus 3 years ago
Childish to look at oneself at 12 and 13 and compare with an adult in their 20s and 30s. Everybody looks awkward as teens/tweens. What, are they supposed to look like trendy adults now?
Auntriarch 3 years ago
I found the change from smiling to duckface pouting rather distasteful. And some of them, well the A-word
Anna McHugh 3 years ago
How come most of these are about people losing weight, when literally right up the page on Bored Panda is another article about a girl talking about how mean everyone is to her because she's lost the 'pretty privilege' for gaining some weight?
WorldNeedsReboot 3 years ago
Amazing what too much weight does to your mental and physical well being...
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