Self-Proclaimed “Ugly Ducklings” Show How They’ve Evolved Throughout The Years
When people finish puberty in their teens, their appearance drastically changes. But puberty isn't the only change in life. Many people worked on themselves later, so that they looked younger in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s. These self-proclaimed "ugly ducklings" boosted their health and confidence to transform their lives. Their transformations are truly inspirational!
Same Smirk, Different Style
At age 15, this woman had no idea what she would look like at age 30. Little did she expect that she now appears younger! Despite her style changes, her smirk has remained the same.
Weight loss improved her appearance, but so did a style makeover and a self-esteem boost. She, and many others on this list, prove that you are never too old to rock colored hair. If anything, the second picture looks like a different color palette than the first photo!
Grooming Makes An Enormous Difference
Weight management is only one aspect of caring for your body. For this Redditor, grooming was another essential part. "[I] went through a weight loss journey and learnt how to look after and groom myself," he wrote.
From age 18 to 23, he learned to dress well, style his hair, and groom his beard. He also seems to have jumped from glasses to contacts. People often feel their best when they care for their hair, skin, and body, and that seems to be the case here.
Only Two Years Later
Self-transformations do not need to take long. This man began his weight loss journey in 2019. Now in 2021, he is more fit and confident than he's ever been.
Although he could not visit gyms due to the pandemic, he did "push-ups and a lot of calisthenic workouts" in his home. He hopes to join the military one day. Not only is he closer to that goal, but he also feels better "not just physically but just spiritually." Go Raichu!
From Moderate To Model
Many models begin their careers during their teens. But this Redditor needed a glow-up first. He lost 100 pounds, took care of his skin, and get a new haircut. Now, he models full-time!
In the comments, the user admitted that "being a broke college student" forced him to diet. But it clearly worked in his favor. Five years after beginning his transformation, he now works in a career that he never imagined getting. What could be more inspiring?
Sometimes, Older Can Be Better
Looking at these two photos, you might believe this woman stepped into the fountain of youth. But the opposite is true. In the first picture, she's 27; in the second, she's 37!
How did she manage to look younger and healthier? When asked, the poster said: "Got therapy, got confidence, lost 60 pounds, got an exercise routine, dyed my hair blonde, and finally learned how to do makeup a year ago. But most importantly, and encompassing all of that, learned to be kinder to myself."
Insecure To Confident
This man was 17 in the first photo, and he was overweight. By age 25, he lost weight, but also gained something more important: confidence. He appears much more confident and comfortable in the second photo.
When he posted this to Reddit, the man said, "'when I loved pizza & was insecure' versus 'still love pizza & learned to love myself.'" Although he looks like a different person, he is still himself-- but glowing much more.
Ten Years After They Met
This Redditor didn't just post a glow-up; he told a romantic story. When he was 21, he met a woman at a college party. She later became his girlfriend. Ten years later, they're both 31 and took a photo with the same pose at a friend's wedding.
This couple not only received "better hairstyle choices," as the poster claimed. They also seem healthier and more put-together. Both seem to work well as a couple because they have improved together over ten years.
She's Not Even Recognizable
If you didn't know that these were transformation photos, would you have guessed that these two ladies are the same person? This woman claims that her nickname used to be "uglie," but she motivated herself to improve.
Not only did she lose weight, but she also learned how to apply makeup "via YouTube." She also experimented with her hair and clothing styles to find what worked best. The result is a much more vibrant, confident woman.
A Few Years Makes A Big Difference
A few years can make an enormous difference. In the first photo, this woman is 18 years old. In the second, she's 21. Her weight loss is her "proudest achievement," and you can see her glowing more.
According to the poster, she has been smiling more and taking more pictures since losing weight. And she should be proud! Losing weight is a huge accomplishment, and everyone should feel comfortable and happy with how they look.
Close To 40 And Looking Fabulous
Aging doesn't guarantee wrinkles, greying, or less beauty. Some people age gracefully, especially when they care for themselves and improve their self-esteem. Believe it or not, this woman is 38 in the second picture.
She lost 200 pounds, grew out her hair, and gained conviction. Arguably, she looks younger now than she did at 16. A common myth says that peoples' lives worsen after college. But people like her give us hope that future decades will go uphill, not downhill.
His Bullies Are Now Eating Their Words
Ten years can make an enormous difference, especially for this man. In his reddit post, he claimed that people used to call him "Cheeks." Now, old peers are re-introducing themselves to him because they don't recognize him.
For some people, spite is enough of a motivator to change. But he also gained benefits for himself. You can see the higher self-love in his posture change alone. In the comments, he claimed that he lost 30 pounds. Well done!
Can You Believe She Cuts Her Own Hair?
Between ages 13 and 26, this woman improved many aspects of herself. She shed her braces, lost weight, developed a love of fashion, and improved her hair. Believe it or not, she cut her own hair in both pictures!
While weight loss made a clear difference here, she made many other changes in this glow-up. She embraced her natural curly hair, smiled more confidently, and appeared happier overall. Many people feel more self-assured when they become adults.
Over 220 Pounds Shed
At age 19, this man weighed 410 pounds. But he worked on weight loss, and after five years, he dropped to 190 pounds! He posted his transformation to Reddit in 2020, and it inspired many people.
He credits a strict exercise routine, steamed vegetables, and portion control for his transformation. He also feels more confident and enjoys spending time at the gym. The best part? He models and acts now. His name is Broderick Hunter, and he has 276,000 followers on Instagram.
The Motorbike Isn't The Only Difference
In her Reddit post, this woman mentioned that she "always dreamed of owning a motorbike." But the bike isn't the only difference here. Between ages 14 and 28, she transformed her style, dyed her hair, and lost weight.
This woman appears younger than she did at 14! But despite the transformation, her punk style has remained the same. It proves that people don't change during glow-ups; they learn to express themselves. That is arguably the best part.
Transformative Teen Years
Many people emerge from their cocoons well into their 20s and 30s. But this determined woman transformed during her teen years. The difference you see is from age 15 to 19.
Not only did she lose 90 pounds, but she also cleared up her skin through Accutane and a healthy skincare routine. These skill sets will follow her throughout adulthood. Compared to many adults, she is way ahead of the curve in terms of self-care.
Learning What To Keep
Part of self-improvement is learning what to keep and what to toss. During this man's journey, he lost his glasses and some weight. But he "kept the nerdiness and over-optimism."
From ages 18 to 28, you can see a noticeable difference. His personality might not have changed, but it became enhanced through healthy habits. He also grew a lot more hair, which, for some people, boosts their confidence. This is an ideal example of contemplating "more of this, less of that."
Many Don't Recognize Her
These two photos might look like ten years' worth of difference, but they're actually five. In the first one, she's 19, and in the second, she's 24. She wrote, "People don't believe me when I show them my ID."
This transformation is drastic, and it required everything from weight loss to skincare to hair dye. No wonder people get confused when they look at her ID. On the bright side, that is a source of pride, not shame.
Confident For The Camera
If you're wondering why his hair grew longer, there's a reason. This man gave himself a challenge: he would not cut his hair until he lost his goal weight. He clearly achieved it!
"Through dieting and boxing I managed to change my life around, and now whenever a camera is pointed at me, I don't feel ashamed or insecure," the Redditor wrote. We do not know if he cut his hair after losing weight.
Barely Recognizable
After years of self-improvement, some people look like an enhanced version of themselves. But this woman looks like a different person. Her haircut, style, and makeup are entirely different than when she was 17.
Not only did she lose weight, but she also got contacts and learned how to apply makeup--not to cover herself, but to enhance her facial structure. She said that she feels much happier now, after three years of working on herself.
A PhD And A Glow-Up
This man didn't just work on his appearance; he improved his living situation and education. In the first photo, he was 25, a college dropout who lived out of his car. In the second photo, he was about to finish his PhD in Pharmacology at age 33.
Some people believe that they're too old to change, but you never are. Nobody "misses" their chance at college or their dream career. Take it from these people, who boost their lives as well as their appearances!
The Difference Shaving Can Make
If you're going to go to the effort of growing a beard or growing facial hair, it's also important to go to the effort of maintaining it properly.
A little bit of weight loss and a lot of shaving made a big difference.
That Hairstyle Wouldn't Have Worked For Anyone
She says the biggest difference between age 11 and age 30 is that she got braces to straighten out her smile.
The thing is, braces couldn't have made up for anything if she still had that haircut.
"Still Feel A Lot Like The Kid On The Left"
No matter how many changes your body goes through, you might still end up feeling like the awkward nerdy kid that you were at 12.
Hey, it happens, even if you look like this man does at 26.
From A Boy To A Man
It only took 12 years for this boy to grow into the happy, well-groomed 25-year-old with a great smile on the right.
He was happy when he was 13, but he's much more comfortable now.
Learning How To Smile
Learning how to smile and how to pose for a photo can make a huge difference.
Plenty of awkward childhood photos could have been better if we'd all learned how to stand properly, but a few other things changed for her between 11 and 28 too.
Life Begins At 40
Life can begin whenever you choose to let it. For this woman, life began at 40.
The photo on the left is her at 25, compared to how she looks now at 40.
Puberty Can Be A Wonderful Thing
For this young man, the years between 14 and 19 were very kind to him because he turned out looking like this.
He "lost some weight, and gained some confidence."
The Power Of Eyebrows
You don't realize what a difference having visible eyebrows makes for someone's face until you see a comparison like this one.
Filling in her brows, plus "my hairline somehow growing forward," makes all the difference.
Losing His Hair Was For The Best
He knows that his haircut in high school would not be considered cool anymore, but at 16, he was very on-trend.
At 46, though, he's said goodbye to the mullet.
Even Her Family Doesn't Recognize Her These Days
The wacky expression definitely didn't help to make her look any better in the original photo, but a lot of other things have changed for her between 12 and 24.
She says even family she hasn't seen for a long time sometimes don't recognize her!
High School Does Not Need To Be The Best Years Of Your Life
He felt "geeky" in high school because of his weight and his look, but now he's in his 30s and is "the most confident I've been in my life."
Shoutout to braces and Lasik.
From 13 To 34
In the photo on the left, she's 13, but honestly, she looks a lot younger at 34 than she did as a 13-year-old.
Those Coke bottle glasses were not doing anybody any favors.
"Lost A Chin, But Gained A Smile"
A lot of changes happen between age 12 and age 27.
Whatever happened in those years for her, she's left a lot happier and more confident in who she is.
The Joy Of Clear Skin
"My skin cleared up, I got braces, learned how to make up and fill in my eyebrows."
It can take a long time to figure out what works for your skin, like for this girl who showed the difference between her at 11 and her at 25.
Putting In The Work
Sometimes it's not so much about waiting for your body to do the work, as much as it's about putting your body to work.
After two years of going to the gym consistently, you can see the difference.
Some Things Haven't Changed
Between 12 and 29, a lot of things have changed for this woman, but she still kept the shorter hair and glasses.
They're simply a more stylish version of them!
Only A Few Changes
I don't care what you say, there is pretty much no world where that hairstyle was going to be flattering on someone.
He might have been happy about it at the time, but it's a good thing it's gone.
Shoutout To The Dermatologist
Clear skin is something many people want, but it can be difficult to achieve, especially when you're a teenager.
Sometimes you need to turn to the professionals, like this woman did, who can help you see a difference in just a year.
Letting Go Of More Than Just Weight
From 320 pounds to a healthy 250 pounds, plus a skincare routine and less of an obsession with punk rock.
On top of all that, he let go of the anger he felt and is now much happier.
Fast-Forward Through Those Fashion Trends
Our parents could have done all of us a lot of good if they had forced us to make better fashion choices when we were kids.
She regrets losing the hat, but the rest of it can stay lost.
