Everyone loves an inspiring story about personal transformation thatโs perhaps best epitomized in the famous fairytale โThe Ugly Ducklingโ. We all know how the story goes: an abandoned and spurned duckling turns into a beautiful swan and becomes envied and admired by all the other ducklings in the pond.
Itโs much more than a fairytale because, like most other fairytales, it teaches us important lessons about life. No matter how unlikely it may seem, with enough effort and dedication, we can overcome discover our long-dormant inner beauty and let everyone see the proud swan that was hiding inside.
Take a look at these inspiring examples of ugly ducklings who turned into good looking and successful adults.
1. Amazing transformation
This is a striking example of how an ugly duckling can transform into a beautiful and attractive woman, despite experiencing some rough times during early adulthood. The girl from this picture wrote: โI must say, being an ugly duckling (both self-described and by the perception of others) made me a much better person than I might have been had I always been โpretty.โ


2. โTaking The Cake On This Oneโ
Many of us have been a little chubby as kids and thereโs nothing wrong with it. For this guy, it was only a motivation to work on himself and become an super attractive young man.


3. โSo Much Can Change In Few Yearsโ
Good looks often go hand-in-hand with self-confidence and as we can see, it looks like the situation was improving slowly in this guyโs case. The end result is pretty impressive. Weโre pretty sure he could be a movie star if he wants to try his hand at acting.



4. Before and after
Itโs hard to believe that both of these photos show the same person. We can see very clerly from this example, how much a person can change with time. In this case, the change was for the better.


5. โHereโs Freshman Year Of College (17) Vs. Now (25)โ
So much has changed for this guy in the eight year gap between these two photos. Let this be an encouragement to all guys out there who donโt feel good about their looks, everything can change quickly if you believe in yourself.


6. โOh, I So Got This Oneโ
A mullet can easily make anyone look bad and those braces donโt help either. Fast forward a couple of years and it all looks a lot better for him.


7. โPuberty Hitsโ
Puberty can do strange things to your body and some of us handle it worse than others. If youโre going through rough puberty, remember you can always blossom into a super-attractive person, just like this guy.


8. โSo This Is Me In 8th Grade And This Is Me Now As A Seniorโ
It must have been an exciting personal journey for this guy whoโs come a long way since he took that first photo back in the 8th grade. Heโs grown into a fine young man.


9. โFreshman 20 And 3 Years Laterโ
Here we can see clearly what a little workout can do to your body. He also looks like heโs gained a lot of self-confidence during those three years, which is great.


10. โHoly Freckles Batmanโ
It wouldnโt be fair to say he was an ugly duckling as a kid and those freckles look cute on kids. On the other hand, heโs grown into a handsome man.


11. Fast forward
This is a truly amazing personal transformation. We all possess an inner beauty thatโs just waiting to be discovered and manifested into good looks that everyone can admire. If it worked for him, it can work for everyone.


12. โI Feel Like Iโve Improved A Bitโ
Letโs forget about that childhood photo, itโs the present that counts, right? Weโre not going to be modest like she was and call it a small improvement; itโs huge.


13. โPeople From High School Usually Recognize Me Just Enough To Ask If I Have A Younger Brotherโ
People who didnโt appreciate him back in high school are probably going to change their opinions when they see him now. Good looks are only one part of the picture, though, we should value people primarily for their personal qualities, good looks only come as an icing on the cake.


14. โMe Age 15 And Me Age 21โ
Battling with acne can be a daunting and traumatic experience for teenagers. Itโs awesome to see that this guy came on top in his struggle with acne, and showed everyone what a good looking young man he is.


15. โStill Donโt Think Iโm Quite Over The Syndrome, But I Do Know Iโm Heaps Betterโ
We love her smile in the first photo. Sheโs become a very attractive young woman but itโs what on the inside that matters most, right?


16. โMy Prepubescent Grandma-esque Appearance Is Still The Butt Of Many Jokes From Friends And Family Todayโ
Most of us need time to figure out our style. It usually comes as we grow older and more secure about ourselves. She was kind of cute in that special geeky way as a teen, though.


17. โI Went Through A Mega-Awkward Stageโ
The past should stay in the past. The best thing about photos like these is that we can look at them from our present perspective and laugh at those awkward stage we went through.


18. โMe In Grade 9 Vs. This Summer At My Cousinโs Weddingโ
Who says that we canโt grow younger? This guy rejuvenated himself in just a couple of years. Weโre sure heโs a girl magnet now.


19. โMan, I Was Good Lookingโ
Itโs often about the attitude, not the looks. The former influences the latter to a large extent. This guy sure looks a lot happier now, without a doubt. Well, a cool haircut makes a difference too.


20. โMe At 13, And Again At 22โ
A lot has changed for this guy in nine years. Itโs a great transformation which can serve as an example to others.


21. โBowl Cut + No Eyelashes + Lipstick On A 1st Graderโ
The dashing young woman we see in the photo to the right was once a boy. Jokes aside, we still like that haircut.


22. โWho Would Have Thought That First Guy Would Ever Reproduceโ
The first guy wasnโt exactly bad looking but everything just looks better when you lose that extra weight. Today, heโs a happy dad.


23. โBefore, Depressed, In The Closet, Overweight And After, Doing My Thing In Chicagoโ
It takes time to figure things out and find the self-confidence that we all need. This guyโs example shows how important it is to be at peace with yourself.


24. โChubby Kid With Afro Vs. Afterโ
One thing hasnโt changed in both these images: his smile. The rest is just building on good foundations.


25. โHereโs Me Then; Shy, Socially Awkward, Big Eared And Unlucky With The Ladies And Hereโs Me Now; Shy, Socially Awkward, Big Eared And Unlucky With The Ladiesโ
We must learn to look beyond physical apperance. Chasing some ideal of beauty society imposes on us can cause a lot of unhappiness. We can only applaud this guyโs bravery.


26. โI Got Thisโ
Some of us need more time to blossom and realize our potential. It doesnโt happen overnight but if we set our mind to it, we can achieve anything.


27. โI Think I Got Less Creepy Over Timeโ
Her eyes do look kind of creepy in the first and last photo but her looks improved steadily over time. She can be sure that sheโll always leave an impression with her stare.


28. โ1999, 2005 And Nowโ
Growing older does have its advantages. We can see that things only improved for this girl over time.


29. โTook About 8 Years Of Not Being A B*tch But I Think Things Turned Out Okayโ
Sometimes we look at our old photos to remind ourselves where we were then and where we are now. Itโs always reassuring to know that we improved.


30. โHow I Looked At The Start Of 2006 And Thatโs Me At The End Of 2011โ
Isnโt it hard to believe both these photos show the same guy? The transformation he went through over a period of only five years is nothing short of amazing.


31. โThree Ugly Ducklings Then And Three Full Fledged Geese Nowโ
What separates a man from a boy? Well, it depends on who we ask, as perspectives differ. These three guys seem to have found the right answer to that perennial question.


32. โNeedless To Say, Middle School Was A Rough Timeโ
Surving middle school can be challenging for many kids who have difficulties with their appearance and social skills. Things turned out well for her in the end and it shows we can all change for the better.


33. Epic transformation
Thereโs a world of difference between these two versions of the same guy. All we can say is that weโre impressed with this transformation.


34. โPerhaps It Wasnโt โUgly Duckling,โ As Much As It Was โKind Of Overweight Duckling.โ
Being overweight in puberty has a negative effect of self-confidence. Itโs awesome to see this guy sorted it all out and grew into a good looking young man.


35. โIt Took Me Some Time To Finally Become A Man!โ
It doesnโt matter how much time it takes as long as we arrive at our destination. What an amazing transformation from a boy to a man.


36. โI Donโt Think Iโm Anything Special Now But The Before Picture Cracks Me Upโ
Isnโt it a fun to compare a photo of you as a kid and the one on which youโre holding a kid of your own? He looks like heโll be a great dad.


37. โ25 Years Of Transformationโฆdear Teens, Youโre Fine Just As You Are!โ
Heโs right. Going through that awkward stage during puberty is another part of growing up. Thereโs little point in being negative towards yourself as a teen.


38. โUgly As F*ck Duckling Vs. Nowโ
We canโt quite agree that she was ugly back then, just a bit of chubby. The haircut was questionable as well yet it all fell into place later.


39. โHereโs Me At About 14 And Here I Am A Few Months Agoโ
Kids can rarely have the refined looks that come later in life. Despite that, nothing quite beats the sweet innocence of childhood.


40. โMiddle School Vs. Nowโ
Hereโs another example of a profound transformation thatโs almost hard to believe. The future looks bright for this amazing young woman.


41. โFirst Pic (fat One) Grade 9. Second Is First Year Universityโ
โRemember that fat kid in 9th grade? That was me.โ People would have a hard time believing itโs the same person in both of these photos.


42. Late bloomer
โI was always the โuglyโ friend and never had guys like me until years after high school. I had cystic acne since age 13 and was bullied immensely in high school,โ wrote the girl who uploaded this photo. Itโs a sad fact that kids are bullied in school just because of their looks. She certainly triumphed in the end, despite all the difficulties she faced back in high school.


43. โI Really Canโt Explain The Quote. I Had A Profound Admiration For Antionio Banderasโ
Back at the time when โZorroโ had first hit the big screens, many kids wanted to be like him. This guy didnโt become Zorro but he become a fine young man.


44. โ5 Years Ago Vs 6 Months Agoโฆโ
This is a big transformation in a relatively short timespan. If you work on yourself, only the sky is the limit.


45. โA Sad Insecure Girl Into A Happy Less Insecure Womanโ
Life is much harder when weโre insecure. Improvement can start only when we realize that only we can overcome this self-imposed obstacle. Unlike the first photo, thereโs now a smile on her face and that shows how things changed for the better in her life.


46. Improvement takes time
No one could say this guy was an ugly duckling as a kid but heโs come a long way since high school. He just needed time to find his style.


47. From caterpillar to butterfly
Weโre not doing ourselves any favors when we compare photos of us taken when we were going through an awkward phase with the photos of us as grown-ups. Itโs much better to come to terms with the way we looked in our teenage years.


48. โSo This Is Before In High School And This Is Me Nowโ
He hasnโt changed that much, though he looks much more mature in the second photo, and a lot slimmer as well. The beard looks nice on him too.


49. โI Cringe At My Before Picture. What A Handful Of Years Can Doโ
Father Time can be our friend and not the enemy. It helped this guy find his style and much needed self-confidence.


50. โ3rd Grade Vs. Senior Yearโ
She was a cute kid and certainly no ugly duckling. We change so fast during childhood and early adulthood which often makes it hard to connect the person we were at 10 with the person we are at 22.


51. โIโm Still Really Awkward And Make Idiotic Faces In Most Of My Pictures But At Least I Have Boobs Nowโ
Boobs are really a bonus, but they shouldnโt be a girlโs only asset. We still prefer the photo number two, though.


52. โI Had A Rough Childhoodโ
She overcame her rough childhood to become a beautiful and attractive young woman. Everything must seem so much better from her present perspective.


53. โMy Own Transformation โ From Fat Bastard To Marathon Runner In Just 4 Yearsโฆโ
It is a great personal triumph to go from being overweight to a marathon runner in only four years. Just goes to prove that with the right mindset, we can achieve our goals, no matter how unlikely they may seem at first.


54. โ2008/2016โ
So many things can change in eight yearsโฆ presidents, new Olympic champions, and our haircuts. This guy looks badass thanks to his beard and haircut and heโs photogenic as well.


55. Beauty takes time
Glasses donโt have to be geeky, quite the opposite. She looks so much better with glasses than without them. While puberty is often painful, it still teaches us important things about ourselves and life.


56. โBefore When I Was 12, Nowadays At 22โ
Isnโt it ironic that kids want to grow up as soon as possible and grown-ups want to be kids again? We should just learn to be content with our age and make the most of the present. Sheโs all grown up in that second photo but still has those chubby kid cheeks which is cute.


57. โ13 Yo Vs 28 Yoโ
We all need a bit of color to make our lives brighter. She realized that perfectly well, hence the flamboyant hairstyle.


58. โJust A Few Years Apartโ
Braces โ they are every teenโs nightmare, the world would be a much better and happier place without them. We bet everything improved for him once he got rid of those horrible braces once and for all.


59. โOne On The Left Vs. Nowโ
When youโre a kid you can afford not to think about anything other than playing with friends all day long. Real problems start when we become too self-conscious. She looks pretty in both these images, albeit in different ways.


60. โThen And Nowโ
The most important thing is that sheโs smiling in both photos. Good looks work only if theyโre a manifestation of the true beauty which lies within.


61. Many years laterโฆ
She looked good in both photos, in our modest opinion, only the style has changed, which is to be expected when we compare a child with a grown-up. It always helps when we put things into perspective.


62. โMe 3 Years Ago Vs Nowโ
It take a lot of courage and determination to change your lifestyle to become a healthier and better looking person. This girl pulled it off in just three years and the transformation sheโs undergone is a staggering example of what we can achieve if we put our mind to it.


63. โWhy Do Parents Give Bowl Haircuts On Girls?!โ
Parents sometimes have no idea of the kind of damage their choices inflict upon their kids. Fortunately, her boyish looks belong to the past. We love that big smile.


64. โMe About 3 To 23 , My Mom Calls Me The Ugly Duckling That Turned To Swan (not Sure If Iโm A Swan Or A Sheepโ
Some things are bound to change in two decades, for example, adults can never have that sweet, innocent smile we see on kidsโ faces. Do you think she looks more photogenic in that second photo, or the first one?


65. Smile and say cheese
Both photos are nice in their own way, though she actually looks younger on the second one. Itโs probably due to lighting and the fact sheโs learned how to be more photogenic since that first photo was taken.


66. โ12 Vs. 22 Years Old. Still A Proud School Nerdโ
We love her attitude. Feeling bitter about our past selves never helps.


67. Amazing transformation
An ambitious workout routine does wonders to your figure. At the risk of repeating ourselves, weโll say that itโs hard to believe that weโre looking at the same woman in these two photos.


68. โSo Embarrassedโฆ.โ
Thereโs nothing to be embarrassed about here. Braces can make anyone look bad.


69. โHereโs A Timeline Of My Ugly Duckling-nessโ
Thatโs a great transformation. Her ugly duckling days are a thing of the past.


70. โ14yo Vs 24yoโ
The only thing these two photos have in common is the haircut โ well, to some extent, at least. Everyting else is a massive improvement.


71. โAbout 10 Years Apartโ
Those of you whoโve been through a goth phase in their teen years know what an impact it can have on your looks. It was fun for a while but we have to agree that sheโs far more beautiful now compared to back when the first photo was taken.


72. โStart Of 2009 (15) Vs. End Of 2016 (22)!โ
He was no ugly duckling at 15. Only the haircut and his fashion style have changed and the result is amazing.


73. โ13 Years Old And Now, 24 Years Oldโ
It must have been tough to battle with acne during the already sensitive age when itโs easy to lose self-confidence. The acne are gone now and thatโs great to see.


74. โ2009 Vs 2015โ
We canโt even begin to imagine the amount of effort it took to achieve what he achieved during those six years. Rocky would be proud.


75. โLeft: Taken A Few Months Ago, Age 26! Right: When I Was 17โฆโ
Sheโs not only managed to look slimmer and fitter than when she was 17, but younger as well. All in all, an amazing transformation.


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