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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone's ever made fun of your appearance?

150 replies

Youwantlove40 · 16/04/2025 14:32

With the current media interest around the poor actress whose teeth have been mocked in a SNL skit, it got me thinking about my own situation.

I have had braces a couple of times now and have straight and healthy teeth. However when I was younger I had a very large gap in my front teeth, and very crowded bottom teeth.
I got a couple of negative comments, I remember when we were 17 a friend told me that 'I'd be so pretty if only I fixed my teeth!'.

Fortunately they didn't put most men off and one even said they liked my gap, for the record I think gaps are great, but mine was enormous and also my teeth tilted inwards.

I used to have a large bump in my nose, and an ex told me he liked my 'big nose'. I'd never said that, he just took it upon himself. I got another couple of comments about my nose.

Have since had the bump straightened and nobody ever comments on it.

Had another ex tell me I had flabby arms, even though I was a size 6-8 and exercised which was upsetting.

I never get any negative comments on my looks anymore. Now that I'm older with more self confidence, if anyone dared to, they'd regret it.
However I've just been thinking about how cruel people can be, and the fact is they're usually unhappy in themselves. Has anyone else had their appearance mocked?

OP posts:
safetyfreak · 16/04/2025 15:02

Yes, when a teen however I rarely get comments now...unless they are said behind my back.

MannequinsArePeopleToo · 16/04/2025 15:03

I have curly hair and used to get teased all the time or called stupid names.
I have the last laugh now though 😂

Misorchid · 16/04/2025 15:03

Boy in our teen gang when I was 16 or so asked if I had a glass eye. I have a lazy eye and wouldn’t go out with specs on. Contacts now and (I hope) corrected. Had no trouble attracting men.
Leading actress in drama group I was part of came to me in the interval and said someone in the audience had told her to tell that plain girl to put some lipstick on.

My own mother could be scathing too. Said I looked like a Mayhorse when I wore my hair half up, half down.
Friend of DH agreed a nose job would be a good idea “as all actresses have them”.
Actually I did have my broken nose fixed and love it.

To the poster with the gap in her teeth, it’s meant to be a lucky sign!👍

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 16/04/2025 15:04

Oh yes. Started at secondary school. 'Big nose' 'eyes too close together' were the usual ones - variations on a theme. Carried on until I reached the age of invisibility at 50 and I don't get it any more, which leads me to believe that my nose and eyes were somehow only relevant when I was 'supposed to be attractive.' My nose is no smaller now and my eyes haven't moved, but, as I'm not young I'm apparently allowed to be ugly now.

unicornpower · 16/04/2025 15:05

Yeah, was bullied for my ‘big forehead’ at school, I was so self conscious for years about it. But turns out said more about the morons that were mean to me!

finallyskinny · 16/04/2025 15:05

all the time when I was younger, unfortunately I'm ginger so that got a lot of hate and then and still now how pale I am in winter. I remember a friends dad used to call me freddy krueger when I was about 6 and then I got seriously bullied at school! as I got older a lot of people do say I'm seriously pretty but I will never be that in my own eyes and have had a bit of work down to correct small things

and my family always said I had tree trunk legs forgot that one this was when I was a size 6 also

BlueEyedBogWitch · 16/04/2025 15:06

I had ginger hair, a flat chest and terrible acne and I was at school in the 1980s, so I’m sure you can imagine.

The insecurity has never left me.

Wellwornastro · 16/04/2025 15:06

Yes but not about my physical features. It's when I try to make an effort. I started trying to put ona little bit of face powder and from the comments you would think I was auditioning to join KISS. Any small attempt to deviate from my usual drab and plain clothes results in hilarity. Trying to make yourself better than you are is a phrase I hear often.

I don't know why this happens. I sometimes think I would like to go to a stylist but I couldn't face the ridicule of going out in nice clothes.

OneFingerOneThumbKeepMoving · 16/04/2025 15:08

My most memorable experience was being called a whale. I was angry with myself for letting it bother me so much. I remember driving home, absolutely breaking my heart.

TheWorminLabyrinth · 16/04/2025 15:09

Countless times. Wearing glasses and being ginger meant school wasn't fun. Called variations of fat bitch more times than I could possibly even begin to count!

Frowningprovidence · 16/04/2025 15:11

Sticky out eats, terrible crowded teeth, flat chested and lots of dark hair on my legs and face and a parent who felt it was unfemisist to shave.

People were horrible!

6079SmithW · 16/04/2025 15:12

Pretty much all my clothes came from jumble sales so that was an issue at primary school. As I grew older my boobs got loads of comments (even from teachers) and my weight in general “you’d be pretty if you weren’t so fat” (I was a size 14).
I wonder if these people ever think about the affect their comments have, when 30 years later I can still remember what for them was probably just a throwaway remark.

RobertaFirmino · 16/04/2025 15:13

MesmerisingMuon · 16/04/2025 15:00

I am very tall and used to have short hair. This guy in a club queue stared at me, nudged his mate and said "do you think it's male or female?".

I retaliated with "well given your moobs are at least a C cup and in need of a bra I can see why you'd be confused".

His mate absolutely pissed himself laughing at my comment and this guy looked very sheepish.

I don't really have time for people who judge me on things that I was born with or choose. Not my sort of people.

I'm a lanky streak of piss and got this comment myself when my hair was short. My reply? 'Suck my dick and find out'. I can't take any credit, I stole the line from a Freak Brothers comic.

fatphalange · 16/04/2025 15:13

I will always remember as a self conscious young teenager, an aunt used to always go on about my boobs at family gatherings. She would go on like I had gone and had a boob job when all I was doing was going through puberty. Come to think of it she has made comments about my body when greeting me my whole life- mainly 'complimentary' but it's awkward because I would never make remarks about some else's body/weight/shape/looks. I hate bumping into her.

I've been in the company of sooo many men who will think nothing of verbally appraising women walking past, just casually 'ooh no wouldn't shag her' , 'she'd get it', 'bloody hell too skinny'....I always respond by saying 'I'm sure you're not her type anyway' or 'she's not even noticed you' or 'she didn't ask for a strangers opinion on her she is just going about her life'. They find it very wounding for some reason Hmm

Bingbopboomboomboombopbam · 16/04/2025 15:14

I would think almost everyone has had their appearance or something about themselves mocked at some point. Unfortunately it’s just how the world is set up.

I’ve had a fair few hits - mostly from family, sadly - but my main insecurity (my overbite) seems to go unmentioned. It’s odd because it’s what stands out the most to me.

Funnily enough, one time a new coworker asked me why do I smile so much and that was the comment that stayed with me the most. I felt stupid.

MasterBeth · 16/04/2025 15:15

Ever? Goodness, yes! For being spotty, sweaty, porky, too pale, too sunburnt, having a massive head, piggy eyes, short legs...

Most of that was as a teenager. Kids can be cruel.

I have grown to be the most average looking adult, for which I am (sometimes) grateful.

menopausalfart · 16/04/2025 15:15

Growing up, yes. My teeth and I was very slim.
I used to never smile with my mouth open. I'd also wear layers so people wouldn't comment on my build. I never learnt to swim as I refused to wear a swimsuit.

Pandimoanymum · 16/04/2025 15:17

I was ginger in my youth and have a limb difference so it was inevitable really. Not often though.

MeAndMyGhost · 16/04/2025 15:17

Always: ginger hair.

KimberleyClark · 16/04/2025 15:20

At school yes. My teeth stuck out and I wore ugly glasses.

OriginalUsername2 · 16/04/2025 15:22

Wellwornastro · 16/04/2025 15:06

Yes but not about my physical features. It's when I try to make an effort. I started trying to put ona little bit of face powder and from the comments you would think I was auditioning to join KISS. Any small attempt to deviate from my usual drab and plain clothes results in hilarity. Trying to make yourself better than you are is a phrase I hear often.

I don't know why this happens. I sometimes think I would like to go to a stylist but I couldn't face the ridicule of going out in nice clothes.

Ooh my blood is boiling for you. It’s because you’re surrounded by arseholes trying to pull you down. How dare they make you feel like that! If you want to try something new you have every right.

Hastentoadd · 16/04/2025 15:25

Youwantlove40 · 16/04/2025 14:32

With the current media interest around the poor actress whose teeth have been mocked in a SNL skit, it got me thinking about my own situation.

I have had braces a couple of times now and have straight and healthy teeth. However when I was younger I had a very large gap in my front teeth, and very crowded bottom teeth.
I got a couple of negative comments, I remember when we were 17 a friend told me that 'I'd be so pretty if only I fixed my teeth!'.

Fortunately they didn't put most men off and one even said they liked my gap, for the record I think gaps are great, but mine was enormous and also my teeth tilted inwards.

I used to have a large bump in my nose, and an ex told me he liked my 'big nose'. I'd never said that, he just took it upon himself. I got another couple of comments about my nose.

Have since had the bump straightened and nobody ever comments on it.

Had another ex tell me I had flabby arms, even though I was a size 6-8 and exercised which was upsetting.

I never get any negative comments on my looks anymore. Now that I'm older with more self confidence, if anyone dared to, they'd regret it.
However I've just been thinking about how cruel people can be, and the fact is they're usually unhappy in themselves. Has anyone else had their appearance mocked?

A few men have commented on my weight even though I have never been remotely overweight in my life
The first boyfriend who said it to me when I was a size 8 ( 5ft 3) and I actually had a eating disorder at the time that he didn’t know about!

GreenYodaFace · 16/04/2025 15:27

People are obsessed with me being 5 foot 3 for some reason

SulkySeagull · 16/04/2025 15:27

I was called ‘goofy’ once by some kids at the pool when I was 10 - stuck with me.

i was also called a giraffe by some boys stood outside the school gates when I was 15 - 6 months later I was scouted by Storm modelling agency, so clearly ‘giraffe’ was in.

I was called a fat pig in the street repeatedly by a homeless woman who had asked me for cash and I said I didn’t have any. I was large - I was pregnant with twins ffs

ehb102 · 16/04/2025 15:27

Being a fat child of course I did. As @Vroomfondleswaistcoat once you get older you stop getting hassled for not being considered fuckable. I like it.