Am I Ugly?

Even Farrah Fawcett suffered bad hair days. Some of us with unphotogenic genetics endure bad hair lives. Beyond follicle follies, facial features present just as fierce of a cosmetic challenge. People say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but it’s hard to stay positive when looking like the Wicked Witch of the West doesn’t require makeup and extends beyond Halloween.

In all seriousness, everyone should treat themselves to affirming compliments and a body-positive mindset to avoid low self-esteem. Perfection hides in imperfections. We all must smile and have fun with the days when all the photos look wrong and you can’t find that right selfie angle. This quiz tickles some with playfulness and tackles others with perhaps overly honest realizations that we all have at least one unattractive quality.

Beauty comes from the outside and inside. Let us be a mirror to help you reflect on your self-image.

“Am I ugly?” That’s a subjective question humanity has pondered since humans lived in caves and Mother Nature monopolized the beauty market. Not much changed for some, but beauty standards undergo an intense metamorphosis every generation. For example, during the Middle Ages, Europeans obsessed over pale skin, blushing cheeks, and blue eyes. Many preferred a plump physique, as it hinted at possible affluence as opposed to malnourishment. Centuries later, Marilyn Monroe epitomized American female beauty with light skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, red lipstick, and a balanced, slender frame. That sentiment stayed in the public subconscious for decades.

Society adopted a more diversified mindset in recent years, with multiple ethnicities promoted as attractive and thickness becoming an openly celebrated body type for many guys. The durable fantasy tropes of masculine men with big biceps and bank accounts is slowly fading too. Cosmetic culture became less interested in muscularity once the harmful effects of steroids and overconsumption of meat became common knowledge. More people say personality is what matters as mental health awareness increases.

Ugliness casts a shunned shadow on beauty. Society exposes children to the idea of ugly people being a bad thing at a young age. Examples include “The Ugly Duckling,” “Butt-Ugly Martians,” and Patrick Star’s humorous story “The Ugly Barnacle.” As kids advance into adulthood, most realize the impact that appearance makes on confidence. Thick skin against constructive criticism is a good trait, but when criticism turns malicious, it carries the potential to shatter the mental health of even strangers. As such, everyone should choose their words wisely when voicing opinions over ugliness vs. beauty.