Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen published The Ugly Duckling in 1843, and a huge reason why the fairy tale is popular to this day is because 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.
To prove that the Ugly Duckling Syndrome is an intrinsic part of life, people are constantly sharing (check out part I of this list here) their personal before-and-after photos in the uglyduckling subreddit. Viewing these images, it’s clear that you never know what time (and puberty, of course) has prepared for you. Even though these late bloomers had to wait a little longer than others to grow into their beautiful people looks fully, the body transformations seem totally worth it. Scroll down to check out their stunning from-ugly-to-pretty images and upvote your favorites!
#1 Lost 50kg (110lbs) In 18 Months After A Rugby Injury, Started Rowing For My University, Got My Msc In Mathematics
#2 I Don’t Even Look Like The Same Person Anymore. 17 To 22
#3 19 To 21
#4 In 25 Months. Found A True Before Pic, Face Gains, Mission Goal Weight In 2018
#5 4 Years Between The Photos. Used To Really Dislike How I Looked But Slowly And Bit By Bit I Started To Treat Myself A Lil Nicer, Didn’t Realize The Difference Till I Saw It Like This
#6 11-21. My Dad Used To Call Me Ugly Betty, And I Took It As A Compliment
#7 13 And 30. They Used To Make Fun Of Me For Coding. Now I Get Paid For It
#8 Grew Into My Chin… And My Ears… And Pretty Much My Whole Face (12yo Me Vs. 22yo Me)
#9 12 To 20. I Promise I Was Always A Girl
#10 What 10 Years Of Makeup, Self Esteem, And Effort Can Do To 2 Ugly Twins
#11 Age 15 To 21
#12 They Used To Call Me “Pretty” As A Joke
#13 17-23. No One Calls Me Bieber Anymore
#14 I Think 16 To 21
#15 From Sundaes To Runways. I Grew Up Quite A Bit From 17 To 21
#16 Lost The Weight But Damn I Miss That Hair
#17 Today At 25, I’ve Lost 120 Lbs And Put On Some Muscle!
#18 14 To 23. It’s Been An Awkward Decade For Me
#19 Early 20’s To Yesterday At 30
#20 From 18 To 23. Who Knew A Jawline Would Be Hidden Under All Of That
#21 16 To 20. What A Difference 4 Years Make
#22 4th Grade Me & 22 Year Old Me. The Photographer Even Made Me Push My Glasses Up Because I Liked To Wear Them On The Tip Of My Nose
#23 My Friends Transition From 12 Pudge To 22 Year Old Stud (8th Grade – Postcollege)
#24 When You’re So Homely You’re Kind Of Cute. From 9 To 24
#25 14 To My 19th Birthday. Grew Up A Little Bit
#26 17 To 19 In 6 Seconds
#27 16 To 23. I Was A T-Shirt, Baggy Jeans, And Scowl Face Kind Of Girl. My Mom Saved A Lot Beautiful Clothing For Me
#28 17 To 22. My Hair Doesn’t Look Like A Bad Wig Anymore
#29 Twenty Years Later. Still Need The Big Glasses
#30 ?-14-18-26
#31 From Headgear Girl With 4 Bangs To Teacher Miss Morgan. To All Former And Current Ducklings: Keep Smiling!
#32 I’d Like To Think The Past 9 Years Have Been Kind To Me. From 15 To 24
#33 12 To 21. Weight Loss And A Set Of Braces Later, I Am Still An Insecure Person, But I Feel Much More Comfortable In My Body
#34 15, Awkward And Rejected By All My Crushes To 22, Dating The Love Of My Life For 2,5 Years (And Much Happier)
#35 I Guess A Lot Happens In 3 And A Half Years
#36 15 To 21. I Was That One Kid In High School Who Still Had A Roller Backpack
#37 14 To 26. I Was So Proud Of That ‘Moustache’
#38 14 To 24
#39 14-24 My Best Friend (Left) And I (Right). Thanks Puberty
#40 15 To 21 My Former Bullies Have Asked Me Out Not Even Realizing We Went To The Same School For Four Years!
#41 In Grade Two, I Looked Like A 40 Year Old Librarian With 6 Cats At Home
#42 3rd Grade – Now
#43 My Boyfriend Doesn’t Even Look Like The Same Person (16 To 21)
#44 14 To 21 Transformation. Indian Peter Griffin To Überdoüche
#45 12 Vs 19. Never Got Taller, But I Got Contacts And Lost A Bunch Of Weight
#46 10 To 26
#47 Crippling Tomboy Stage 12 To 20
#48 I Always Knew Deep Down I Was A Blonde (12 Vs 15 Vs 20)
#49 19 To 26. Lost Weight, Figured Out A Hairstyle I Liked
#50 I Didn’t Do Anything Special, But I’m Not Ugly Anymore
#51 11 To 25 – It’s Always The Hair (Standard Asian Bowl Cut)
#52 7ish To 25, That Hair Cut Is A Crime Against Humanity
#53 Puberty Is So Kind
