Millennial women are calling out a popular early 2000s movie trope they say caused lasting damage to their self-esteem.
Threads user u/dvekukolkim recently shared a throwback post highlighting a string of teen and romantic comedies built around the idea that a woman needed a makeover to be seen as beautiful or worthy. The post quickly resonated, garnering more than 88,000 views on Threads.
“’00s romcoms ‘ugly girl needs a makeover’ trope did more damage than any acne commercial ever could,” she wrote.
The post featured several iconic female protagonists who famously underwent cinematic glow-ups, including Laney Boggs from She’s All That, Mia Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway, from The Princess Diaries, Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, from 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), and Gracie Hart, played by Sandra Bullock, from Miss Congeniality (2000).
In She’s All That, Laney Boggs is introduced as an artsy, introverted high school student who is dismissed as undesirable largely because she wears paint-splattered overalls and glasses. Her transformation involves contact lenses, fashionable clothing, and a dramatic reveal scene that reframes her as conventionally attractive.
Similarly, The Princess Diaries centers on Mia Thermopolis, an awkward teenager whose frizzy hair, glasses, and lack of polish are treated as problems to be fixed once she learns she is royalty. Her makeover—straightened hair, contacts, and refined styling—signals her readiness to be accepted both socially and romantically.
In Miss Congeniality, FBI agent Gracie Hart is portrayed as competent but unfeminine, and her arc hinges on learning how to walk, dress, and present herself according to beauty pageant standards in order to succeed.
Meanwhile, 10 Things I Hate About You takes a slightly different approach. Kat Stratford is never explicitly given a full makeover, but her nonconformity—minimal makeup, practical clothing, and an unapologetic personality—is positioned in contrast to more traditionally feminine characters, sparking ongoing debate among viewers about whether the film belongs in the same trope.
The post sparked thousands of comments from users reflecting on how these portrayals shaped their perceptions of beauty at a young age.
“I’ll never forgive them for trying to tell us that Anne Hathaway was ‘ugly’ bc they gave her glasses, thick eyebrows, and frizzy hair,” shared Lyndsay.
Others pushed back on grouping all the characters together.
Archive Photos / Stringer / Frederick M. Brown / Stringer/Moviepix / Getty Images Entertainment
“I don’t think Kat was ever said to need a makeover or was touted as ugly. She just wasn’t popular. I agree with you though, none of those beautiful women could ever be ‘ugly,’ so for media to pretend they are is very damaging,” said Katherine Holton.
“Kat was never meant to be ugly she just refused to pander to the male gaze in terms of dress/hair/make-up,” said Kerry Burkes.
Several commenters shared how the trope directly influenced their real-life choices as children and teens.
“Literally, 11-year-old me refused to wear her glasses ‘because they are ugly.’ I rather didn’t see what the class was about than be considered ugly,” said Veerle.
Others emphasized that the issue wasn’t necessarily the characters’ appearances, but how difference and nonconformity were framed as flaws.
“Kat and Laney were never referred to as ‘ugly’ or ‘undesirable’ because of their looks. Kat was opinionated, and stood her ground (or in the ’90s, a b****) and Laney was an artist, and different, a ‘freak’ I believe was the word. I still don’t love the trope but just a point of fact lol,” said Alain Morterud.
One user summed up the long-term impact many millennials say these films had on their expectations of beauty and acceptance.
“These movies convinced little me that if I just had straight hair and got contacts all the boys in my class would fall in love with me. Flash forward to 9th grade I get contacts and all the boys tell me I look weird without glasses,” shared another user.
Newsweek reached out to u/dvekukolkim for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
