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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask whether you were pretty when you were younger?

161 replies

Totur · 16/06/2019 04:29

I look at photos of me and I was so pretty when young but I had zero confidence.
I'm stuck now being old and miserable. I wish I had enjoyed or known that I was actually quite pretty.

Even now, my confidence in dealing with people is tied up with how I think I look in the mirror.
I think I was actually pretty but wasted all my youth thinking I was Ozzy Osbourne in the female form!

OP posts:
HappenedForAReisling · 16/06/2019 04:32

Yes I was. Unfortunately my looks have gone.

Trebla · 16/06/2019 04:38

Much prettier than I thought I was with no idea of how to maximize it.

Even photos of me into my 30s.

CSIblonde · 16/06/2019 04:42

Very pretty but convinced I was ugly. And unable to cope/issues with boyfriends & relationships as a result. Now I'm old & struggle with my weight I wish I'd appreciated it at the time.

madcatladyforever · 16/06/2019 04:44

Yes really beautiful now all gone but I don't care. I had zero confidence and self esteem when I was younger.

mrbob · 16/06/2019 04:45

No. Much better now (still not gorgeous) mainly because I have some confidence I think. I seem to have grown into my looks and know what suits me better rather than trying to copy my skinny friends

Winterlife · 16/06/2019 04:47

Very pretty but insecure.

Birdie6 · 16/06/2019 04:50

Yes, pretty and slim, but I thought I was fat and ugly. It's only now that I can see how I really looked, what a pity.

Downunderduchess · 16/06/2019 05:09

Yes very pretty. I'm still attractive but obviously not like I was. I'm photogenic I don't look that amazing in the flesh! I'm happy to be getting older as I know it's a privilege not everyone gets so I try & not be too negative about losing my looks!

mothsgotmycashmere · 16/06/2019 05:25

I was always aware that I was considered pretty, and whilst I've never been lacking in self-confidence, somehow I only really started to feel it for myself in my early 30s, when I learnt to dress well and had a good haircut. Looking back at photos of me at about 20 recently, I was amazed by how pretty I was. I'm almost 47 now, and whilst I regret the long black hair and fresh face, I feel good about how I look.

vampirethriller · 16/06/2019 05:48

Yes and had a good figure. I didn't think so at the time. I wish I had because it's gone now and even if I lose weight it's not going to be the same.

Original poster
Totur · 16/06/2019 06:01

Look at all us pretty ladies!

If only we knew then what we know now eh?

OP posts:
Original poster
Totur · 16/06/2019 06:02

In 20 years time we'll probably be looking back at ourselves now saying the same thing.

OP posts:
TidyDancer · 16/06/2019 06:08

I was a beautiful child, people commented on it a lot, but that stopped when I was school age. I guess I have nice childhood photos but I would not describe myself as photogenic now.

YouJustDoYou · 16/06/2019 06:11

Only with make up on. Was called ugly three separate times by laughing strange men the times I happened to not wear makeup over my younger years. Utterly utterly destroyed any and all confidence I had. Since having children though I've found I just don't care that I'm unattractive, their innocent love is personally with everything to me because it's based on me as their mother not just my face or figure.

Nquartz · 16/06/2019 06:17

Not really, and I look better as technology has improved! My hair was always frizzy but as straighteners have improved so has.my hair Grin

I've also got better at putting make up on & I dress better now!

Thatnameistaken · 16/06/2019 06:53

Nope, I've always been a bit of a munter, but at least I can be sure that my DP of 25 years is with me for what's on the inside.

Pinkarsedfly · 16/06/2019 06:55

I look at photos and realise I was lovely.

I thought I was fat and ugly. Genuinely. I had no idea.

It makes me very sad.

Danceswithlightning · 16/06/2019 06:56

No I was the fat kid, with frizzy hair. I was always told by my parents when I was upset that I would grow into my looks (like the ugly duckling) but it never happened and I dont really mind as I like not getting attention.

GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit · 16/06/2019 07:09

Yes. As a result I never really had to bother with make up or hairstyles or nice clothes. I still looked pretty good and had my fair share of admirers.

Every now and again I would meet an aunt or even once once my sister in law who would sit me down and attempt to explain that if I made more of an effort I would actually be really good looking and wasnt this a bit of a waste.

And I would think no its brilliant because of some generic luck I can wander around in jeans and a fleece with no make up on looking perfectly nice.

It isn't looking so good 20 years later but I still find it hard to care. I wish I wasnt over weight though and sometimes I catch a glimpse in the mirror and think oops.

GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit · 16/06/2019 07:10

I meant genetic luck rather than generic luck!

gubbsywubbsy · 16/06/2019 07:11

I wasn't overly a pretty child( quite tomboy) but as a teen I was very slim and curvy with lots of curly hair and have always had some kind of weird sexy aura that attracts men .. still it happens in my 40's and I'm a bit overweight now but still very hourglass with lots of curly hair so I guess a lot of men like that 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️... could just be my personality though I spose ..
funny as I've grown up with a mum and sister with zero confidence but I always had loads .

GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit · 16/06/2019 07:14

@YouJustDoYou You know that was their problem not yours? They were horrible people.

sobercuriouskind · 16/06/2019 07:14

No I wasn't, and I am glad in a way. Made me focus on what is really important in life. And now at nearly 40, I have a confidence beyond anything to do with what I see in the mirror.

MsTSwift · 16/06/2019 07:16

I guess I was attractive, I was often asked out and turned heads when I walked into a bars also got grim street harassment. When I was 23 I overheard my bosses wife say to him “what an attractive girl” etc. My figure was perfect.

As you age even if you stay attractive for your age you lose the sex appeal to men. The advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages imo !

Happyspud · 16/06/2019 07:16

OP you’re not getting it. Being pretty or otherwise is a completely separate issue to being happy. Unless you’ve got your priorities completely wrong.