Top 30 Ugly Duckling Transformations in Movies

[@MsMojo]

Which of these makeovers do YOU remember the most? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Most Ridiculous Makeover Tropes - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYWpiKKlq5yUmrc

[@williambilyeu9801]

I prefer Wendy Hiller as Eliza Doolittle in "Pygmalion" which was the basis for the musical "My Fair Lady." I also like the transformation of Greta Garbo in "Ninotchka" which was remade as the musical "Silk Stockings." 🤔😊👍

[@mariannewestrope3888]

So glad you included Now, Voyageur. One of my all time favourite movies.

[@gabrielavonwald]

Barbara Streisand

[@mousemd]

The one that floored me the most was Anne Hathaway. When she played the Princess, but she wasn't told until she was a teen. That was clever to use a newcomer. At least, I had never heard of her

[@mousemd]

I am not surprised at your number one pick. I would have been surprised if she wasn't. I held my breath at your #1

[@trinaq]

"I don't remember Frump Girl", but I remember you." That line is so romantic, I love that Ian was emotionally connected to Toula's spirit, before her big transformation.

[@Michelle-DiPalo]

I liked this one the most because she was doing it for herself, where a lot of these makeovers were for other people.

[@glitterbugsincorporatedhull]

❤

[@trinaq]

I personally never found Allison's makeover to be a big deal, as it meant that she was bonding with Claire, who was giving her the affection that her own parents never had. Also, Andy clearly liked her long before the makeover even happened, since he stated that he liked seeing her face.

[@leiamims3633]

I agree!

[@nixeleth]

Exactly. Andrew had already approached her several times and shared plenty of bonding moments with her prior to the makeover. I think you hit the nail right on the head by saying that it was a bonding moment for Allison and Claire, seeing as how most of the interactions between them up until then had been more caustic than sympathetic (mostly on Claire's part), so "why are you being so nice to me?" "Because you're letting me" becomes much more significant/meaningful.

[@leiamims3633]

All of these so called “ugly ducklings” were already pretty!

[@erikayb]

Agreed!

[@trinaq]

@@leiamims3633 I agree, they were already gorgeous to begin with, but many just needed a confidence boost.

[@leiamims3633]

@@trinaq I agree!

[@melissacooper8724]

The problem I have with these makeover tropes is that the girl ditches her glasses when she gets made over! I mean, couldn't they just give her new frames that are chic on her?

[@leiamims3633]

@@melissacooper8724 I agree!

[@lolcatz88]

I LOVE Strictly Ballroom! 1. Because it’s Australian, 2. Because Fran’s transformation was slow and subtle and she wasn’t plastered with makeup to make her pretty. I could watch that final dance scene over and over! Amazing movie!

[@krsncrs821]

Me too!! ❤❤❤

[@tindomul8977]

❤

[@jenestratoo]

That's the reason I stopped scrolling to watch this... to see where Strictly Ballroom placed 😂

[@ny.l.a]

She was already pretty in “She’s all that” she just had glasses on 😂

[@mayahigginbotham9873]

And a wig. A bad wig.

[@sweetandsourdish3723]

These characters have always been beautiful. They just needed someone to show them. ❤️❤️❤️

[@yellowcatmonkey]

show them how to be uncomfortable and conforming. anything but themselves..

[@cocoaorange1]

Not necessarily, that is nothing wrong in looking better, but stay the same personality wise.

[@lianel664]

From a beautiful girl or women, to a male Gaze objekt.

[@competitionglen]

"Tell me about it, stud". RIP Olivia. It was the new attitude as well as hair/make-up/wardrobe update.

[@isabellep.461]

Amazing Bette Davis! Sandra Bullock made me laugh so hard!

[@talesyuki]

Omgggg St Trinian!! I never see this getting any mention anywhere ever!!! I love it!!!

[@1tommyday]

Love Never Been Kissed!!! Such a great RomCom!!! Great last scene ever!

[@gregjaro-mk7zs]

YES! MIA THERMOPOLIS' MAKEOVER FROM "THE PRINCESS DIARIES" FRANCHISE WAS ICONIC & I LOVED IT! 👸🏻💄👠🎞️🎬🎥🥰

[@JoanneRVG]

I absolutely love “Working Girl” and “The Devil Wears Prada”

[@marjorieking2290]

Barbra Streisand in “The Mirror has 2 Faces.” That and “Moonstruck” are 2 of my favorites!

[@MrMousley]

I was hoping that Barbra Streisand (The Mirror has 2 Faces) would be on the list.

[@cindycarmichael9768]

​@@MrMousleythat was an excellent movie, Barbara looked amazing!!!

[@mmogburn]

So great to see Strictly Ballroom on the list.

[@kudrashka9]

Me too. It such a good movie. So underrated!

[@glorialoreto]

Toula was my favorite because she did it for herself, not for a men

[@hd-xc2lz]

Except that the new look required make up, loss of glasses, change of hair style, i.e. conventional "improvements" intended to attract men.

[@anyankachan9884]

No. No. No. Love Potion # 9 is the most ridiculous amazing transformation you’ll ever see on screen.

[@blaze556922]

It's always funny when they try to hide the hot girl under your glasses and a ponytail when you know full well she is absolutely gorgeous exactly like that and without it

[@Achdujeh]

I liked the makeovers of all the girls in 'House Bunny' :)

[@johnanderson9765]

Agreed, I expected to see that movie on this list.

[@angorachic]

Yes! I thought that would be here.

[@pickleballer1729]

These "transitions" would be more interesting if the actors weren't stunningly beautiful already. That said, I'm SO glad you included "Ballroom Dancing" on this list. A fantastic movie. I used to have it on DVD, but lost it somehow. I'd love to see it again.

[@whimsical_flower]

Sabrina (Hepburn or Ormond version) should have made the list.

[@jemima438]

Completely agree.

[@steffanieurbano7646]

Ormond in Sabrina changed my brain chemistry, but Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway are my transformation idols.

[@nowaylaowai204]

Remember, if you're gorgeous and you're reading this, if you want to be instantly ugly, just slap on a pair of glasses. This message has been Hollywood-approved.

[@HLPiepgrass]

Or have curly hair, that’s not straightened.

[@Disneygirlie]

Not saying she's not pretty, but Hermione's will always be my favourite ❤

[@trinaq]

I agree, though it's obvious that Emma Watson was always cute, even at a young age, it was when Harry and Ron started to realise that she was, in fact, a girl, especially Ron.

[@LadyVoldemort]

I thought she would be in the top 3... 😅

[@Klaus-em3ix]

In the book it is different: her nose get operated.

[@NBK1122]

I'm in the middle of watching this. Let's see if Sissy Spacek's Carrie, or Stockard Channing in "The Girl Most Likely To" made the list

[@jambgsu07]

Muriel from "Muriel's Wedding" should have made the list.

[@allisonheath1156]

Agreed!

[@douglasmijangos3327]

Aaaawwwee Man.. a lot of these scenes got me through my Young Lonely Male Teenage Years 😂

[@Neilfrozn]

Animated entries on this list, really?!?! Anyway, my favorite has always been Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club.

[@Klaus-em3ix]

Ally Sheedy was much hotter in black! It's not only my opinion, all the other guys around agreed.

[@krsncrs821]

I am so so happy to see Strictly Ballroom on your list. One of my all time favorite movies and the first I thought of when I saw the title of this video. Thank you!

[@Caro-Cooper]

Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games did quite a transformation from poor girl to the girl on flames

[@hawaiiankira]

I remember a majority of these transformations. Love that Strictly Ballroom is on the list.

[@lh5670]

Muriel’s Wedding. I would have picked that over Strictly Ballroom.

[@jenrig2333]

Sandy in Grease should have been in the top 5. And Streisand in The Mirror Has Two Faces should have been on there. It's a great movie and realistic glow up to inspire spinsters galore.

[@NoCorpoCerto]

love this channel so much 🥰one more great vid!

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Definitely Cinderella (ever since my childhood) happy saturday afternoon, Emily, take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well

[@zamyafields6513]

*MY FAVORITES:* Mia Thermopolis - The Princess Diaries Edna Turnblad - Hairspray Andy Sachs - The Devil Wears Prada Selina Kyle - Batman Returns Laney Boggs - She's All That Cinderella - Cinderella Bridget - Trolls Eliza Doolittle - My Fair Lady Marisa Ventura - Maid in Manhattan Fran - Strictly Ballroom Allison Reynolds - The Breakfast Club Olive Penderghast - Easy A Cady Heron - Mean Girls Charlotte Vale - Now, Voyager Jo Stockton - Funny Face Sam Montgomery - A Cinderella Story Fern Mayo - Jawbreaker Helen Tasker - True Lies Sandy Olsson - Grease Anya - Anastasia Vivian Ward - Pretty Woman Danielle de Barbarac - Ever After Josie Geller - Never Been Kissed Loretta Castorini - Moonstruck Tai Frasier - Clueless Zeta Alpha Zeta Girls - The House Bunny Toula Portokalos - My Big Fat Greek Wedding Gracie Hart - Miss Congeniality Katie Simpson - She's Out of Control

[@lansesteiner3563]

To Wong Fu, Thank For Everything. Julie Newmar: After the strawberry festival

[@pierre-paulmarcil8850]

No DUFF? Not only did they not made her ugly by adding fake glasses or anything, but also, she's the one who took charge of her own make-over and stayed true to herself while doing so. Can't believe she's not here.

[@JP_Wu]

isn't Hilary Duff at # 18?

[@taniasimcox860]

Yes she is 😂

[@BabyBlueBAI]

​@@JP_WuThey mean the movie The DUFF

[@WarDog793]

My favorite is Rachael Leigh Cook in _She's All That._ The way they made her look in the first part of the movie, you'd never have thought she was such a stunner in real life (well, the beach party did hint at that, when she took over all the boys' attention.) Ms. Cook is a true beauty, and it's a shame she's not gotten more and better roles since then.

[@richardmeredith6534]

Huge omission here, Stockard Channing in "The girl most likely to"

[@poshdelux]

Miss congeniality deserves to be number one

[@swoesteban5570]

Ally Sheedy made up the scene with the "cereal sandwich" and had a sugar rush the rest of the day. 😊

[@wraytew8666]

Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee and Bernadette Peters as the witch in the flimed version of Into The Woods belong on this list.

[@jessetorres8738]

So, apparently it is on the outside that counts, since in pretty much all of these films/shows, once the female (or in some cases male) character starts to look good, that's when people start to like/pay attention to them, & it has been this way ever since My Fair Lady, & continued in films like Pretty Woman, She's All That, & The Princess Diaries.

[@alyssakoski8651]

Duh, that’s the formula 😂 I don’t know if any of us are proud we like it, and knowing it sends the wrong message doesn’t stop it from being a popular trope all the same - a guilty pleasure

[@PrinceTraumatizin]

queen latifah in last holiday

[@milesjesu8050]

Yes! And in her case (unlike a lot of these) it wasn't just about a more glamorous appearance--though that was there too and fun to see--it was a real transformation from inside.

[@judithmartin953]

Shoutout to Aussie actress Gia Carides for being in two of these movies ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Strictly Ballroom" - she's the blonde who pushes past Fran in the clip, so you don't get to see her face)

[@ineslazalde9629]

This is all about the pressure on women. Y'all are beautiful. Don't let the media ever make you think differently.

[@sandiego2380]

women put pressure on themselves and on other women. Don't victimize them, please. Women are just as shallow and sexist as men and also want 'mr charming' rather than average guy.

[@CanadianFuzzy]

Chyler Leigh did the walk down the stairs thing yet again last year in the show The Way Home when going to her daughter's dance to be a chaperone. They even set it to Sixpence's Kiss Me again lol

[@TwilightLink77]

At least she didn’t destroy the staircase this time.

[@aynsleyhamilton8840]

Bahaha!! I was watching and kept thinking "Where's Mia?!?! Where's Mia!?!?!" That. That one is my fav. Closely followed by Pretty Woman.

[@PatrolOfficer161]

The live action "Cinderella" was pretty awesome also. I suppose Lily James was more of a frump, disregarded blossom than an 'Ugly Duckling' but her transformation both physical and psychological was stunning.

[@mousemd]

What shocked me the most was Anne in that Princess movie. Not sure how well known she was? If she wasn't, that was clever. I didn't know her at the time

[@LadyVoldemort]

I think Mandy Moore was a lot more famous than her back then (I was in uni). At least in my country. So yeah, that was a clever move.

[@katrin712]

Selina Kyle was changed beyond the catsuit… she looked entirely different for the whole movie… limiting her to her alternate persona is a shame as it passes by her whole crisis around who she is really in the end…

[@evonnemccausland3531]

My favorite transformations were TRUE changes in the character... not just exterior changes...Bette Davis in "Now Voyager" and Olivia DeHavilland in "The Heiress"!

[@justjan147]

Both are excellent movies!

[@christineheminger7762]

24:59 if you put glasses with thick black frames on Allison now, she’d look like a pre-makeover girl in other films

[@PetyrinaJaye]

I wish the magical makeover from 1989’s Teen Witch had made an appearance, but otherwise this was a really great list! Shoutout to Strictly Ballroom!! ❤❤❤

[@fionatsangarides6201]

Mine is she’s all that !! I love that movie !! She is so beautiful !! Both ways !!

[@1tommyday]

Cannot believe the 90s Sabrina did not make this list! Julia Ormond was dazzling in that

[@Pensacolavixen]

I am surprised that "Adrian" in the movie- Rocky- did not make the cut. Talia Shire's transformation was great.

[@clarisabartol]

The mirror has two faces!

[@cindystrachan8566]

You should make a part 2 so that a few great makeovers you missed could be included. Like Agnes Gooch (Peggy Cass) in Auntie Mame. Amanda Bynes in What a Girl Wants. And Stockard Channing in The Girl Most Likely To… Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Among others.

[@sarazeamer3617]

😂 I loved how it said were not including men then #1 was john Travolta rofl 🤣

[@carrickrichards2457]

3: 'My Fair Lady' and 2: 'Strictly Ballroom' are my top 2.

[@briannahlabelle2458]

Love all of these but haven’t seen all of the movies

[@jhenrigarrote]

RLC as Laney most memorable for me, it’s not the greatest makeover yes, but that scene is too iconic, walking down the stairs with a new hairstyle and a red dress while Sixpence playing “Kiss Me” is overkill, it’s like every boys dream to see their prom date just like that 😂

[@C.F-e3j]

Nr 22 will always be my Nr 1 make over classic!

[@JB-sf5do]

To me Fran (Strictly Ballroom) and Allison Reynolds (Breakfast Club) are the most successful transformations. They seem more realistic because the characters are comfortable with hiding. Their transformations seem to shock even themselves and they step into them cautiously - but the results are magical.

[@gripanimal]

Not an intentional transformation, but Adrian Balboa is an entirely different woman by the end of "Rocky".

[@Animeguy300]

Beauty come from the inside

[@hd-xc2lz]

Not really. In fact the repeated ad nauseam complaint that these actresses/characters were already beautiful says quite the opposite.

[@fxboffy]

"Muriel" is missing, certainly one of the best on the theme, if not the best

[@willsmith75]

I would've added Sandra bullock character from love potion No.9.

[@cliffcorson4000]

its movies and shows like these that gave millions of girls/women issues of their self worth and beauty

[@sandiego2380]

tough. My sympathy goes for the poor children and women and MEN dying in war zones, not to women and girls in rich countries being so privileged that their only issue is getting affected by fictional movies.

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

You have two of my favorite films on this list: Now, Voyager and Strictly Ballroom.

[@kristinjoni]

Only halfway through watching but I hope Sabrina makes this list. Best makeover ever

[@Harmonywolfred]

My mommy? 😂I laughed at that one when I was younger. I think the clothes were more of the make over more then the girl

[@nataliaalejandravacachacon9295]

You should have included Cantinflas’ “A volar joven” where Miroslava Stern’s character transformation is amazing.

[@peteroscarson1188]

Even Mojo gets it right sometimes.

[@DimitriYar]

I never forget Amy Dolenz in She´s out of control and Anne Hathaway in Princes diary one !

[@kphedges707]

HELLLLLOOOOOOOO! You didn't even mention The Duff!

[@wookinooki9023]

Notice that in the tale of the ugly duckling, there is no sudden transformation. It is just the very slow Progressive evolution Of the central character.

[@erikayb]

Laney Boggs ❤❤

[@SpiderMonkey20s]

I always preferred Velma, Laney, Fern, and Allison before the makeovers. I guess I've got a type.

[@ineslazalde9629]

Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman should make JD Vance scared.

[@leiamims3633]

@@ineslazalde9629 😂😅

[@robindeal3650]

Sorry. What about Goldie hawn from death becomes her!! Best transmission EVER

[@DeltaElites]

Most of these ladies already looked beautiful, especially Sandra Dee. They simply dressed up.

[@Cinderella72291]

I knew princess diaires would be number 1. Part of me would have loved to be a part of the movie.

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

Some of these aren't really ugly duckling transformations, but moves to conform to a different sector of society. Grease and Working Girl are in this category, and My Fair Lady, Cinderella, and Pretty Woman sort of are. I had forgotten about this part of the plot of Strictly Ballroom, which was a good choice for near the top of the list.

[@randyrogers8568]

Sorry but you missed the best one of all time: Doris Day playing Calamity Jane. When she goes from tomboy to the prettiest girl at the Officers Ball, everybody's jaw drops, but mostly Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel)

[@glorialoreto]

I remember "The Nanny" with My Fair Lady

[@EbbyGebby]

How is Sandy not #1?

[@neleverdonck3078]

where is last holliday? i love that makeover

[@nixeleth]

Allison didn't need a confidence boost. Most of her interactions were already with Andrew to begin with, and he was very clearly interested in her before she pulled her hair back and put on some different eye shadow.

[@cocoaorange1]

Yes she did, she was sloppy and tacky.

[@kellybarnett1461]

I haven't watch the whole thing but I hope the main girl of off teenage witch is on here love that movie

[@ebrut1986]

Eliza Doolittle will always be my number one❤ I adore Audrey Hepburn.

[@hd-xc2lz]

And she stands out as the most harmed or most isolated by the makeover.

[@scriptmaker]

Can't believe you skipped Queen Latifa in Just Wright.

[@mckfrr]

You forgot Louise Miller from teen witch. That movie, while so cheesy and cringy, is one of my favorites! “I’m gonna be the most popular girl.”

[@rickbazan4205]

Another moral of many of these movies is that it takes lots of money to look good.

[@cocoaorange1]

Sad, but true.

[@Rascool69]

The devil wears Prada was not the duckling movie. It was the princess diaries when Mia became princess of genovia

[@luckyluck8843]

Did maid in Manhattan dirty didn't even show the finished look

[@angorachic]

Sandy on Grease should have been number one.

[@laura-bianca3130]

I do a make over every day 😂