We’ve all experienced going through awkward moments in our childhood, and the memories still torment us. Most of them were because of puberty and all the physical, emotional, and mental challenges that came with it. You might have woken up one morning with a breakout or decided to try out a hairdo that didn’t quite work when it’s picture day at school. Unless you were a cool kid or rolled with the “it crowd,” the majority of us had it rough.
Then the years roll by, and you gain a better understanding of your physical and mental state. You start eating better and taking care of yourself. In every sense, you grow in the most beautiful ways you never thought was possible! With that in mind, here are 30 brave folks who took to the “ugly ducklings” subreddit and shared their incredible “swan” transformations. Be inspired, as they remind all of us that we can always overcome imperfections.
A Lesson On Resilience
The “ugly ducklings” subreddit boasts of more than 116,000 community enthusiasts who have mostly shared their transformations into beautiful butterflies over the years. The subreddit is dedicated to celebrating late bloomers, those who’ve made positive personal changes in their lives, and motivational transformations like this one.
This gorgeous lady shared two selfies, the first showing how she looked before having double jaw surgery and the second after. If you ask us, she looks beautiful in both photos. However, her confidence shines through in the after picture, making her truly inspirational when it comes to the subject of resiliency.
Bonafide Biker
Research suggests that we all have an inherent desire to improve ourselves positively when it comes to our personality traits. Most of us have thought at some point that we want to have a more outgoing, charismatic, or optimistic approach in life.
The Journal of Personality and Psychology published research that says it's possible to change your personality. That's what this post reflects. It starts with a 14-year old who dreamt about owning a motorbike and ends with someone who has made it a reality 14 years later. This is one of those teachable moments about not judging someone at face value.
Metamorphosis
While growing up, you’re either an early bloomer or a late one. Of course, we’re not only referring to physical growth but also about traits. After all, not everyone develops different abilities at the same rate. For instance, not everyone starts displaying leadership or creativity at an early age.
Scott Barry Kaufman penned an article about human traits for Psychology Today, explaining that genetics control most of our attributes. Kaufman explained that most of these traits also take decades for them to emerge. What we see here is a representation of a girl’s journey blossoming into a beautiful woman.
Losing Weight To Walk The Runways
Kaufman also explains that society is wired to celebrate child prodigies, but being an early bloomer doesn't necessarily guarantee that anyone can continue to be successful in various regards. It takes hard work and dedication to get closer to your goals and eventually achieve them.
The majority of us struggle with weight issues right from childhood, but here is a man who did something about it. He lost an incredible 100 pounds and went on to rule the runways. The weight loss in itself is commendable, but it's admirable that he pursued his goals and finally lived his dream.
Gaining Clarity
Nearly every teenager suffers from acne, and most of us also had breakouts. Usually, it happens when sebum (an oily substance) clogs up the pores. The result is the formation of pimples that pop up around the face and neck. Treatment is dependent on its severity.
Here we see a lady who thanks Accutane (isotretinoin) for helping her manage her pimples. The medication is a derivative of Vitamin A (retinoid), and when strictly used as prescribed, it does a great job of clearing up breakouts. She also dropped 90 pounds, and it almost seems like we’re looking at two different people in these photos!
Better Grooming Habits
Teenagers, particularly boys, have a reputation for not having the best grooming habits. In general, grooming has a lot to do with appearance, including taking care of the most visible part of the body—the face. Most male teens don't have dense facial hair but learning to manage it, alongside adopting good hygiene habits, helps a great deal later in life.
This guy is a perfect example of what we are talking about. He explains that he got mildly better at grooming, and it visibly shows through his appearance now that he's 31. Some aspects of life just require learning and growth.
Confidence Unlocked
As hard as we try to overlook our appearance or how other people look, we always find ourselves going down that sinkhole. For some, it drives them to emphasize their looks and tie it with their self-esteem. It doesn't help that society also emphasizes appearance, and that's why most people strive to look great rather than focus on their self-worth.
This lady worked on clearing her breakouts, and she also got Lasik to ditch her eyeglasses. She explains that she gained confidence along the way. What matters is how she feels and the way she perceives herself at the end of the day. Good for you, girl!
Cultivating A Positive Self Concept
Sadly, people still largely consider bullying as a conventional part of childhood. Psychology has revealed that it has devastating and long term effects on the person subjected to it. However, bullying doesn't have to shape anyone's life, and fortunately, most people now learn positive ways to cope.
This guy survived bullying, although he explains that he still gets insecure. A study published in the National Library of Medicine on the psychological effects of childhood bullying found that both victims and bullies often find it hard to manage stress. As per Valerie Earnshaw (University of Delaware), it's possible to cultivate healthy self-esteem and a positive self-concept despite it all.
Hair Raising 20s To Dashing 30s
The best thing about growing up is realizing that we were just passing through phases when we faced situations that made us feel hopeless. It's even better if the tough times served as teachable moments to remind us that, above anything, we overcame the worst.
Just based on this guy's appearance in his mid-20s versus his mid-30s, we gather that he's worked hard to better himself and possibly achieve his goals. We like the fact that while he might have ditched those wild tresses, he's still kept some semblance of his edgy look.
From A Regular Nerd To A Ripped Bearded Cutie
Anyone who once didn't see themselves in the best light will often struggle to realize that their natural beauty is what matters most. The battle is a good one regardless because once you recognize the power in your own abilities, it equips you with the skills to help you make it through the rest of your life.
The biggest lesson is that looks come and go, but your personality, abilities, and who you are overall shape your identity. In a decade, this guy lost the glasses and got ripped. He says that he kept the nerdiness as well as his sense of over-optimism.
Overcoming Body Image Issues
Most of us have gone on drastic diets at one point and tried out edgy looks all because we wanted to change our appearance. This lady shared that she used to cut her locks short when she was 15 so that she would look like a guy.
She also admits that she turned to food for comfort, and it didn’t help her well-being. Eventually, she finally found a way to cut out the self-sabotaging habits that she was latching onto. At 26, this gorgeous gal achieved the changes she wanted, and we’re just happy for her.
Look At That Glow Up!
Psychology Today shared some practical ways to rethink your appearance and self-esteem. While you can't change what society perceives as beauty, you can change your definition. Don't focus on the Photoshopped and airbrushed standards of beauty you see in ads and social media. Choose to focus on real-life people and draw admiration from what you see every day.
This fellow shares that he feels good about how he looks at 31 after shedding off 160 pounds and keeping it off for seven years. He admits that he's still trying to find his look, which shows that we are always trying to better ourselves.
Change Happens When You Love Yourself
When you think about it, the mental torture we subject ourselves to on account of our appearance makes us forget the most important thing in life. Being consumed by the quest to change what you believe are your shortcomings will often make you forget to love yourself.
This chap went through what he describes as a bad year after getting out of a toxic relationship in 2018. He had gained some weight in that time, but in 2019, he worked on it and finally got it together in 2020. He is proof that you can always achieve the impossible as long as you put yourself first.
Losing 220Lbs Looks Like This
It’s amazing how this guy lost a whopping 220 pounds gradually from 19 to 27 years old. The hard work he put into it shows, and he’s an excellent example of how slowly reversing unhealthy habits we’ve gotten ourselves into is the solution to sustainable success.
It’s hard to stop being too concerned about your weight and how you look. However, you stand to benefit more from picking up healthy lifestyle habits geared towards improving your overall wellness. Eat better, start working out, become more mindful, and everything will fall in place.
Finding Inner Peace
Finding inner harmony is what we all hope to accomplish in life, and it's possible without necessarily having to meditate on mountaintops or going to the ends of the earth for yoga retreats. The crazy pace of life doesn't allow us the luxury to take the time away to reach this state of enlightenment.
Psychotherapist and author Ashley Davis Bush recommends working on tapping into our inner compassion, calm, and deep awareness. Above all, we should understand that having peace of mind doesn't always equate to isolation and silence. We guess this lady learned that, as she finally feels at peace with herself at 26 compared to her 13-year-old self.
Now Reeling In The Ladies
Susan Krauss Whitbourne penned an article published by Psychology Today about how you can make yourself feel better about your looks. Whitbourne says it's better to define yourself based on your inner qualities rather than your appearance.
Your abilities, personality, and world perspective can invariably improve with time. These aspects are also more visibly changeable compared to bodily features. Even by simply smiling, you present yourself more pleasingly. Corny as it sounds, people like other people who smile. This chap says that he enjoyed fishing at 17, and it looks like his hobbies and confidence have changed over time.
Being More Present
We’ve all been guilty of wearing clothes just because we thought they were fashionable instead of what we felt comfortable wearing at some point. Most of us also have a “good side,” we turn to when taking photos instead of just being true to the moment.
According to this fellow, he would always look up when taking photos to hide his double chin. It looks like he lost a bit of weight, and it boosted his spirit. He now looks like he’s more present when taking photos and less fixated on putting his best foot forward.
You Can Change In College
Paul von Hippel, an associate professor at The University of Texas, researched the obesity prevalence in 18,170 kindergarten children. His study ran from 2010 to 2013, and he concluded that students generally piled the weight during the summer holidays, remaining unchanged or losing some pounds during the school year.
The trend carries through in high school, but 15% of students lose weight instead of gaining it in college. It mostly happens due to the change in routine and environment. One example is this dude, who dropped some weight and changed his dressing style by the time he got to senior year in college.
No More Awkward Photos
Taking photographs when you don't particularly view yourself in high regard is usually not something you look forward to. You end up looking uncomfortable and awkward in the pictures because, half the time, you are worried about hiding your flaws. However, when you finally figure things out, every photo you take is a great photo.
Take it from this woman who says that she finally figured out what to do with her hands when taking pictures now that she's 26. The second snap appears to have been taken on her wedding day, and her transformation is evident.
Comfortable In His Own Skin
We can all agree that just growing up has made a world of difference in our lives. Most of us had awkward phases where we had to wear braces for years to fix our teeth. The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming an adult and leaving those days behind.
It doesn’t mean that being an adult doesn’t come with its challenges, though, like what this guy found out. He explains that he’s comfortable with himself but knows that he still has a lot of work to do. He shared that he’s also learning to love himself and likes the person he’s becoming.
Men Have Body Image Issues Too
We hear a lot about women who struggle to live up to unrealistic beauty standards, but men also face similar issues. Robert Pattinson, Sam Smith, and other celebs have already shared their struggles, further proving that men also have these concerns.
Just like women, the body image issues men face run deeper than just how much they weigh. Research conducted by UCLA psychiatrists even found that people now feel worse than they did in the ’70s. Boys start exercising while in middle and high school to bulk up. As you can see from his freshman year to his 6th-year senior photos, this guy must’ve joined the wagon.
A Healthier You
This guy set out to lose weight in 2019, and by February 2020, he had lost 65 pounds. While the majority of people who set out to lose weight are motivated by the drive to look better, several more are forced by health issues.
The Center for Disease Control says that your health stands to improve significantly just by losing just 5 to 10% of your total body weight. For instance, someone who weighs 200 pounds and loses 10 pounds decreases their risk factor for developing chronic diseases that come with obesity.
Personality That Shines Through
You shouldn't underestimate the value of having a good personality. They always say that it's best to be beautiful on the inside and let it radiate on the outside. It doesn't mean that attractive people have less than pleasing personalities or that the opposite is true.
Most people who had rough childhoods do their best to create a better future for themselves. Take this gorgeous girl, whose photos were taken between 12 and 27 years old, as an example. She admits to having a tough childhood, but she at least came out of it with a good character.
Eyeing The Price
The digital age came with outstanding advantages, but it’s also created mixed perceptions, particularly to the perception of beauty. Before that, all we had were magazines, cinema, and computers as sources of reference for defining beauty.
We now have beauty influencers, but most sadly promote the idea that you can “fake it.” On the other hand, we are also learning and appreciating that beauty presents itself in different forms. This lady has the most gorgeous eyes, and we’re glad she’s learned to love herself within the ten years apart that these pictures were taken (2010-2020).
The Right Kind Of Weight Gain
When we think about weight gain, we often don't relate it to anything positive. The majority of people are always trying to shed off excess weight, but many badly want to gain some.
Several methods exist to help anyone underweight or those who need to shed off fat and build muscle. Weight training is one of the effective ways to burn fat while increasing your muscle mass. That seems like the weight gain this guy is talking about, and he also benefited from other gains, including getting a few tattoos and a pair of glasses.
No One Can Bully Her Now
You'll often hear people saying that bullies are merely trying to attack other people who possess attributes they are lacking or wish they had. It doesn't excuse their actions, and the victim is left to battle with self-esteem issues after being subjected to their torture.
This lady says that she got bullied a lot when she was 15, but more than a decade later, she had grown up and left those unhappy memories in the past. It's heartwarming to see that she's in a chapter of her life that involves creating happier memories with someone who loves her.
First Internship
We all had a first interview, and the memory isn’t a pleasant one for most of us. It’s almost impossible to anticipate the questions you’ll have to answer during an interview, and even if it’s a feel-good type of interview about your life, most folks still stumble through it.
This man explained that he was a 35-pound overweight with mean attitude that cost him several good friendships. He apologized to everyone he burned along the way, and most forgave him. He added that he doesn’t blame the people who couldn’t come around to pardoning his actions in the past, though. It just shows how much he’s improved.
Change Doesn't Have To Be Drastic
We often imagine that change has to present itself grandly so that it is visibly noticeable. Achieving any form of change that takes you closer to your goals is a big deal. It doesn’t have to be totally obvious, but it seems quite a bit in this case.
The Reddit user who posted this transformation deleted the original post that compares his 17-year-old self to his 22-year-old self. Yet, if you read from the comments, some are genuinely curious about what he did to achieve his new look, while others just think nothing much changed except for the angle he chose to take the photo from.
From Frumpy To Stylish
Style doesn’t come naturally for all of us, and it takes a couple of years before we find what works for our body type. Usually, there’s an exploration phase that we go through, and the payoff is eventually finding your aesthetic.
At 19, this lady hadn’t found her sense of style yet. As per one of the commenters, her outfit came off a bit frumpy for her age. By 23, she looks like she dropped a couple of pounds and figured out how to dress up in a more flattering style for her physique.
Making The Right Changes
Women, in particular, suffer most from body image issues. It’s the reason why many go to extreme measures to change how they look. One research found that 86% of women were dissatisfied with their bodies, in general, and wanted to lose weight.
Perhaps it’s a big reason why we always admire those who manage to work on themselves, achieving changes the healthy way, like this lady. She explains that her body and style changed from 12 to 30 years old, but she still listens to an embarrassing amount of her beloved rock band, Brand New. We’re glad that she found herself but kept her inner child.