How 'Ugly Betty', Joan Holloway and Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak taught us to love ourselves (9 Photos)
Leslie Goldman on Jul 28, 2010 at 12:41AM
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With her bushy eyebrows, Coke bottle glasses, shiny braces and blindingly bright ponchos, Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) was a fashion disaster, making her the perfect, platonic assistant for manslut and Mode editor in chief, Daniel. But Betty was also incredibly good-hearted, brave and determined, traits that drew everyone to her like refried beans to an enchilada. We heart her knack for rolling with the punches, her refusal to sacrifice her integrity, and her ability to make even the ugliest duckling look like a graceful swan. Her frumpy character holds an everywoman appeal in the US and abroad: In India Betty is featured on stamps and in Russia her drab clothes sparked a fashion trend.
Lesson learned: Beauty is on the inside.
