30 Times People Went Through “Ugly Duckling” Transformations And Shared Their Results To Inspire Others

About four years ago, an internet trend known as the “10-Year Challenge” took social media platforms by storm. This challenge involved people sharing two photographs of themselves side by side, showcasing their transformation over a decade.

Recently, a Twitter user by the name of ‘Wandering Hedonist’ took to the said platform to share his own over a decade-long transformation, from 2011 to 2023 to be exact. His caption humorously invited others to show their aging process akin to ‘fine wine’. This post rapidly gained traction then, amassing nearly 800,000 views in just a matter of days. Moreover, the trend caught on as other users in the thread enthusiastically began sharing their own ‘before and after’ transformations too!

More info: twitter.com

#1 2011 vs. 2023

We recently had the opportunity to reach out and interview the previously mentioned user ‘Wandering Hedonist’ (or as he likes to call himself – Edgar), who is known for his viral Twitter thread and for his gastronomy channel called “Bars, Breakfasts & Flex”. As a global gastronomy enthusiast, his platform on Telegram highlights the best breakfast spots and bars across the world.

When asked about his motivation to start this small challenge, he shared, “As someone who runs my own gastronomy channel (‘Bars, Breakfasts & Flex’), I’ve always been all about sharing experiences and connecting with people. Creating this challenge felt like another opportunity to do just that – share a personal journey and potentially inspire others in the process.”

#2 2011 vs. 2023

#3 2011 vs. 2023

Edgar’s caption in the tweet, ‘aging like fine wine’, captured the interest of many bird app users as some deemed it enough of a reason to join his challenge. In explaining the meaning behind this phrase, he told We, “Just like a good wine that improves with age, I believe we as individuals also gain depth, character, and complexity over time. In the context of my work, I suppose it also has a cheeky gastronomical touch to it haha!”

#4 The Thread Author, 2011 vs. 2023

#5 2011 vs. 2023

As mentioned before, the thread initiated by ‘Wandering Hedonist’ (Edgar) drew numerous people across the world who were quickly starting to share their own transformations by quote-tweeting his initial post. In response to whether any transformations stood out, Edgar revealed, “Each transformation shared in the thread was unique and inspiring in its own way. Seeing people embrace their journey and openly share their growth was truly moving. I think we as people tend to become better as we age (not only appearance-wise).”

#6 2015 vs. 2023

#7 2004 vs. 2023

When asked about how the success and reach of his tweet had affected his perspective of social media, he enthusiastically shared, “Absolutely, this experience has underscored the power of Twitter (and other socials) as a platform for connection. It has the ability to unite people around shared experiences, bridging geographic, cultural, and personal divides.”

That being said, Pandas, we hope that this interview with Edgar shed some light on his passion for sharing not only his unique culinary experiences but also personal growth stories, as well as his belief in the power of social media to bring people together.

#8 2013 vs. 2023