Do you have U.D.S?

U.D.S: Ugly Duckling Syndrome. Yeah, I had no idea what this was until I heard it from a comedian. According to Urban Dictionary, it’s:

Ugly Duckling Syndrome:

“A Girl who grew up all her life unattractive until High School or College when she then "Blossomed" into a really hot girl. Unlike naturally pretty girls though, her self-esteem is pretty low (As it'll almost permanently be for life) but, she has a good heart, personality, and soul because that's all she could afford to have when she was unattractive. Also, any girl with UDS, will go out with any guy cause to her "Looks Doesn't Matter. As long as they have a good Sense of Humor." As long as they never realize that they're a Ten, they'll always be humbled and down to earth.
A girl with the Ugly Duckling Syndrome or UDS, is The Perfect Catch! She's a Perfect 10 both in and out and she'll do whatever you want her to do! She'll date anybody and could never do anything wrong to you because to her, she's lucky just to have you!”
–Urbandictionary.com

Based on other websites where I searched for the definition, I noticed that this UDS seems to be common in females than male. This obviously made me think of the story, “The Ugly Duckling”, in fact, in the original story, the duckling was a male. It’s interesting how self-conscious and self-esteem issues are more often portrayed in women when men feel the same way. Men may not display their feeling the same or deal with them in the same way, but they do have their days/moments when they’re not feeling their best.

I’m not sure I even like the term “U.D.S.” because it denounces a transformation that someone makes. In fact, what makes someone feel ugly before they feel beautiful is the fact that everyone else thought they were ugly. They seemed “different” because they did not have similar traits like everyone else. This is where being different as an adolescent is rejected and then accepted as an adult. We can’t seem to win with “difference,” either you’re rejected or admired. It is society that is labeling the word “different” and not the individual person.

If we change in looks or personality, media/society should not have the right to label that too. Our change is our work, our sweat, our time, how dare we “diagnose” that! Mad rude.

To anyone who has transformed in any positive way, congrats to you! No, you don’t have UDS, you’ve always been beautiful. I’m sorry people have made you feel otherwise. I’m sorry you let yourself feel otherwise.