History Main / PunishedWithUgly

* In ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'', the [[LooksLikeOrlok Nosferatu Clan]] often Embraces vain, beautiful people, cursing them into looking like them. Depending on the individual vampire's tastes, this is done for two reasons: Some do this to teach "TheBeautifulElite" a lesson in humility, while others like to do this [[ForTheEvulz just so they can watch models and actors writhe in agony]]. Unfortunate victims of this kind of 'lesson' are dubbed "Cleopatras", allegedly after the character in ''{{Freaks}}''.

* The [[GreekMythology Greek mythical]] monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but [[DoubleStandardRapeDivineOnMortal made the mistake of being raped by Poseidon]] in the temple of Aphrodite.

* The [[GreekMythology Greek mythical]] monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better of her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this badly. Think tusks and talons badly.

* An episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' had a variation: During a particularly vain phase, Sabrina meets a kindhearted and charitable ([[InformedAbility according to Hilda and Zelda]]) yet ugly relative (her skin is spotted green) whom Sabrina treats with apprehension. Said relative decides to teach her a lesson...by gradually turning Sabrina's ''boyfriend'' Harvey into a werewolf-esque creature (so much for kindhearted). She changes Harvey back only when Sabrina accepts him despite his looks.

* In ''MetalGearSolid 4'', Snake apparently thinks of his RapidAging as this.

* The Greek mythical monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better of her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this badly. Think tusks and talons badly.

* The book ''Beastly'' matches this, as it is a modern version of "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast". Protagonist Kyle is a rich jerk who embarrasses Kendra, an unpopular girl who turns out to be a witch. He gets cursed by turning into a hideous beast, until he receives True Love's Kiss.

* Part of the ''Dragonlance'' backstory has the Irda, a beautiful, powerful race of blue-skinned humanoids who were the first sentients created on Krynn who enslaved first the elves, than men when they proved more useful as laborers. After growing too arrogant, all but one clan (who were friendly to humans) were cursed by the gods and become the hideous green-skinned monsters known as Ogres.

* In the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh}}'' manga and first series anime, a beautiful, but sadistic teacher is challenged to a shadow game by the main character. Her punishment for losing is having her face shattered, revealing her inner ugliness.

* The Greek mythical monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better of her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this badly.

* ''BeautyAndTheBeast'' is the most obvious.

* Parodied in ''TheSimpsons'', when Homer is taking an oath when he becomes a Stonecutter.

* The book ''Beastly'' matches this, as it is a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. Protagonist Kyle is a rich jerk who embarrasses Kendra, an unpopular girl who turns out to be a witch. He gets cursed by turning into a hideous beast, until he receives True Love's Kiss.

* The Greek monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better of her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this badly.

-->Homer: And by the sacred parchment, I swear that if I reveal the secrets of the Stonecutters, may my stomach become bloated and my head be plucked of all but three hairs --\\
Moe: Um, I think he should have to take a different oath.

* Inverted for one story arc of {{Deadpool}}: The normally-hideous merc is cursed... into looking like [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Thom Cruz]]. Otherwise played exactly straight, as it was an effective punishment.
* An episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' had a variation: during a particularly vain phase, Sabrina meets an kindhearted and charitable ([[InformedAbility according to Hilda and Zelda]]) yet ugly relative (her skin is spotted green) who Sabrina treats with apprehension. Said relative decides to teach her a lesson...by gradually turning Sabrina's ''boyfriend'' Harvey into a werewolf-esque creature (so much for kind hearted). She only changes him back when Sabrina accepts him despite his looks.

* In ''{{Seven}}'', the villain cuts up the face of a beatiful but vain woman and makes her choose between life with an ugly face and suicide. [[spoiler:She decides for the latter.]]
* Part of the Dragonlance backstory has the Irda, a beautiful, powerful race of blue-skinned humanoids who were the first sentients created on Krynn who enslaved first the elves, than men when they proved more useful as laborers. After growing too arrogant, all but one clan (who were friendly to humans) were cursed by the gods and become the hideous green-skinned monsters known as Ogres.

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* In ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'', the [[LooksLikeOrlok Nosferatu Clan]] often Embraces vain, beautiful people, cursing them into looking like them. Depending on the individual vampire's tastes, this is done for two reasons: Some do this to teach "TheBeautifulPeople" a lesson in humility, while others like to do this [[ForTheEvulz just so they can watch models and actors writhe in agony]]. Unfortunate victims of this kind of 'lesson' are dubbed "Cleopatras", allegedly after the character in ''{{Freaks}}''.

* In ''VampireTheMasquerade'', the [[LooksLikeOrlok Nosferatu Clan]] often Embraces vain, beautiful people, cursing them into looking like them. Depending on the individual vampire's tastes, this is done for two reasons: Some do this to teach "TheBeautifulPeople" a lesson in humility, while others like to do this [[ForTheEvulz just so they can watch models and actors writhe in agony]]. Unfortunate victims of this kind of 'lesson' are dubbed "Cleopatras", allegedly after the character in ''{{Freaks}}''.

* In ''VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines,'' there was a supermodel named Imalia who was turned into a Nosferatu (a clan of vampires so monstrously ugly they can't let themselves be seen by humans) for her vanity.
** Likewise, Gary Golden used to be a handsome actor before being Embraced by the Nosferatu. However, after several decades, Gary has adjusted to his role as a sewer-dwelling nightmare and has even become the Primogen of the LA Nosferatu.
** In the original tabletop game, it is mentioned that Nosferatu do this for differing reasons: some do this to teach "TheBeautifulPeople" a lesson, while others like to do this [[ForTheEvulz just so they can watch models and actors writhe in agony.]] Such people are dubbed "Cleopatras," allegedly after the character in ''{{Freaks}}''.

* In the ''[=~Yu-Gi-Oh!~=]'' manga and first series anime, a beautiful, but sadistic teacher is challenged to a shadow game by the main character. Her punishment for losing is having her face shattered, revealing her inner ugliness.

* The Greek monster Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who beheld her face was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]], was supposedly afflicted with this. In many versions of the myth, she was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better of her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this [[{{Understatement}} badly.]]

* Part of the Dragonlance backstory has the Irda, a beautiful, powerful race of blue-skinned humanoids who were the first sentients created on Krynn who enslaved first the elves, than men when they proved more useful as laborers. After growing too arrogant, all but one clan (who were friendly to humans) were cursed by the gods and become the hideous green-skinned monsters known as Orcs.

A beautiful character is punished by being turned ugly, which is apparently a FateWorseThanDeath. Usually a punishment for vanity, but not necessarily. See also BeautyToBeast, which is the general trope of a beautiful person turning ugly for whatever reason, including plain old-fashioned aging.

* Medusa and arguably Arachne from Greek mythology.

* The Greek monster Medusa was supposedly afflicted with this. She was originally a beautiful girl, but her pride got the better or her and she eventually proclaimed that she was more beautiful than Athena. Athena responded to this [[{{Understatement}} badly.]]

** In the original tabletop game, it is mentioned that Nosferatu do this for differing reasons: some do this to teach "TheBeautifulPeople" a lesson, while others like to do this [[ForTheEvulz just so they can watch models and actors writhe in agony.]]

* In the ''YuGiOh'' manga and first series anime, a beautiful, but sadistic teacher is challenged to a shadow game by the main character. Her punishment for losing is having her face shattered, revealing her inner ugliness.

!!Examples

* Kavonn of ''CharbyTheVampirate'' cursed a female character with a reactive version of this: She switches between beautiful and ugly depending on her actions.

* BeautyAndTheBeast is the most obvious.

* In IntoTheWoods, [[spoiler:the ugly old witch was really a beautiful woman who had been victim of this]].

* In the recent film {{Penelope}}, the title character is "cursed" to have a pig nose. People tend to respond to her looks extremely negatively.

* Inverted for one story arc of Deadpool: The normally-hideous merc is cursed... into looking like [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Thom Cruz]]. Otherwise played exactly straight, as it was an effective punishment.
* An episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' had a variation: during a particularly vain phase, Sabrina meets an kind hearted and charitable ([[InformedAbility according to Hilda and Zelda]]) yet ugly relative (her skin is spotted green) who Sabrina treats with apprehension. Said relative decides to teach her a lesson...by gradually turning Sabrina's ''boyfriend'' Harvey into a werewolf-esque creature (so much for kind hearted). She only changes him back when Sabrina accepts him despite his looks.