History Main / BeAWhoreToGetYourMan

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In "Bad Tina", Tina's new friend Tammy encourages Tina to change her style (complete with the typical middle school/junior high [[UncannyValleyMakeUp too-much-make up look]]) to attract Jimmy Pesto Jr. Tina eventually realizes the makeup (and getting "drunk" on her mom's ''non-alcoholic'' margarita mix) isn't really her and decides to go back to her old style.

* Attempted by Lisa in [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E1LardOfTheDance an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' when she finds out that all the other girls in her class have already gotten dates for the upcoming school dance. Lisa dons a cocktail dress and heavy makeup in an attempt to attract a partner for herself, but all the boys she approaches have already been asked by girls sporting similar looks. She then desperately asks Milhouse out, but even he has already asked someone out. As Lisa demands he change his mind, she sees her reflection in his glasses and realizes this is not the way to present herself.

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[[quoteright:350:[[Film/{{Grease}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grease_be_a_whore_0.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:From bobby-soxer to body rocker, all for love.]]

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* Played with in ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Reo wants to get Matsuri's attention, and his ''mother'' Matoi advises her to be more sexually forward. But Reo is already very [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl openly sexual]], and Matoi is saying to be outright '''aggressive''' because Matsuri is [[{{Uke}} passive]]. Despite Reo practically feeling Matsuri up at every chance from then on, [[ObliviousToLove he still fails to notice her feelings are romantic]].

[[folder:FanWorks]]
* Downplayed in ''FanFic/TheSecretLifeOfTheBackyardKids.'' Achmed goes [[ShoppingMontage shopping]] with Sam and gives her a "[[RockAndRoll rock 'n roll]] [[TheMakeover makeover]]", but her look is more "[[TheLadette rocker chick]]" than {{Fanservice}}.

* TropeCodifier, Sandy in ''Film/{{Grease}}'' changes from a sweet girl next door to a bad girl.[[note]] [[Series/DonnyAndMarie Marie Osmond]] turned down the role ''because'' of the message.[[/note]] The film also shows Danny ''trying'' to become the Varsity Good Guy to be with Sandy--still, he's extremely glad she made those changes. Kind of weird as they had a relationship that apparently more or less ''worked'' before she changed to fit in with his friends. The 1950s (in which the film is set) actually put a good deal of value on fitting in with one's social group, and the 1970s (in which the film was made) was all about reinventing yourself to make your life better.
** Subverted by the 2016 Live TV version. In this adaptation, Sandy is given a backstory in which her parents have always had a lot of control over her life. This is emphasized by how she lies to them about going to study at her friend's house in order to secretly go to prom, of which her parents would disapprove since they never let her go to dances. With this backstory in mind, Sandy's decision to take on a "bad girl" appearance at the end of the show is clearly ''not'' due to the pressure from her friends to fit in, but instead due to Sandy's newfound confidence to be who she has always felt like she was on the inside, ''not'' who her parents (or friends, for that matter) want her to be. This is emphasized by Sandy's discussion with Rizzo right before the makeover, where Rizzo makes sure that this is something Sandy wants to do before they go through with it.
* ''Film/{{Hobgoblins}}'' plays this one utterly straight, with the protagonist Kevin's girlfriend Amy starting off the film as frigid, prudish, and impossible to please (she calls him "pathetic" because he lost an impromptu mock battle against a friend who'd just gotten back from the Army). Then the hobgoblins use their MindControl powers to lower her inhibitions, which makes her go to the local nightclub and start stripping before her friends intervene. By the end of the film, it's clear both Kevin and Amy are happier now that she's "loosened up".
* In the 1931 movie ''Film/TheSmilingLieutenant'', Maurice Chevalier's old girlfriend teaches his new, prim wife, whom he was more-or-less forced to marry, how to vamp it up, and Chevalier falls in love with her.
%% * A complaint about ''Film/TheUglyTruth''.
* ''Theatre/TheWomen'': This is the lesson good wife Mary learns when slutty Crystal seduces Mary's husband and steals him away.
-->"I should've beat her where she beat me: in the sack."
* Parodied in ''Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena'': Dev tells Maya she has to spice things up with her husband to make her marriage work, so she shows up at their apartment dressed as a dominatrix and wielding a whip. Turns out all of her husband's friends are here to watch the football game...
%% * ''Film/BreakingTheWaves'' by Lars Von Trier: overlaps with BreakTheCutie.

* In ''Film/SummerOfSam'', Mira Sorvino can't please her husband, so she is forced to beg for sex tips from his ex-girlfriend to keep him from cheating.
* In ''Film/HesJustNotThatIntoYou'', Jennifer Connelly, in an effort to win back her cheating husband, shows up at his office in the middle of the day to seduce him. We have been given the impression that this is completely out of character for her and that their sex life is virtually non-existent--in fact, she blames herself for his cheating because of this.
* Lampshaded in ''Film/TheUntoldStory''. The lone female cop dresses in a slutty fashion in order to impress the men in the precinct. They are impressed, but the chief tells her she looks "like a whore". She replies, "But this is the way your girlfriends dress," and he quickly responds, "But they are whores, my dear."

* ''Film/SplendorInTheGrass''. Deanie won't let Bud have sex with her because good girls don't have sex in 1928 Kansas. This leads to Bud breaking up with Deanie. In an effort to win Bud back, Deanie tarts herself up and tries to seduce him, but fails. Apparently, Bud is just not able to see her in that way, or [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased maybe she just came on too strong]]. In any event, her effort to seduce Bud at the dance fails.
--> '''Bud''': Deanie, you're a nice girl.\\
'''Deanie''': I'm not. I'm not a nice girl.
* ''Film/ScandalInSorrento'': Violante is in love with Antonio, but he has eyes only for Agnese--mainly because Agnese is played by Creator/SophiaLoren wearing a series of tight dresses, while Violante dresses as the prim, reserved widow that she is. Caramella the OldRetainer then gives Violante some advice. She pulls off Violante's dress so that Violante is wearing only a slip, says Violante has [[BuxomBeautyStandard a great figure with nice breasts]], and says that if Antonio sees her like that he'll go for her. It works: after Violante [[LettingHerHairDown lets her hair down]] and puts on lacy, sexy nightclothes, the two of them are on the floor together as the movie ends.

* ''Film/ThankYourLuckyStars'': Creator/AnnSheridan's song in this musical revue movie, "Love Isn't Born, It's Made" is all about how women can't play coy but have to put out if they expect men to fall in love with them.
-->Love can’t do much/For a couple who don’t quite touch/Love needs a chance/To advance...So, my precious young dove/If you’re dreaming of love/Better lead him into the trap/For you’ll never remain/On the gentleman’s brain/Till you’re on the gentleman’s lap.
* ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'': Lacey Underall, Judge Smails' [[ReallyGetsAround sexually liberated]] niece put this into practice before she [[ThePornomancer meets and picks up]] Danny Noonan. At the Fourth of July banquet, Danny becomes sexually attracted to Lacey and Maggie [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8kC6QeQ1CU#t=30m39s informs]] him of her reputation. That only makes Danny [[MyGirlIsASlut grow even more attracted to Lacey]]. Later, when [[ModestyBedsheet he's in bed with Lacey]], Danny [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8kC6QeQ1CU#t=57m48s tells her]] that she's still free to have sex with [[EvenTheGirlsWantHer other people]].{{NSFW}}
* In ''Film/JulietOfTheSpirits'', Juliet, a middle-aged wife, has discovered her husband is cheating on her. Distraught, she goes to Bhisma the medium for advice. Bhisma urges Juliet to do just this, saying "Learn to please your husband" and telling her to wear sexy stockings. Juliet is indignant, saying "Whoring—some advice!"

* Played every which way in ''Film/TheHouseBunny''. Former Playboy bunny Shelley falls in with a group of misfit sorority girls and helps them update their image, which greatly improves their standing on campus and helps several of them score a guy. Shelley herself falls for a guy who resists her every attempt to flirt with him until the girls figure out he's one of those rare guys who's interested in (gasp!) ''conversation''. So she starts to dress conservatively and puts up an intellectual facade, with cringe-worthy results. Meanwhile, the other girls realize that they've started to become the same vapid, judgemental people who used to look down on them and decide to go back to their old frumpy ways. Eventually everyone settles on a happy medium.

* Discussed in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', set in a world where males are rare and secluded and very feminine by our world's standards. Jerin is approaching the age of marriage, and one of his sisters, paging through a men's fashion magazine, wants him to make himself tight-fitting pants with a codpiece. Such clothing would let prospective wives see what they were getting.

* In the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'', growing up, one of the young women in Richard's town tried this. By ''screwing his brother in front of him''. It didn't work.
* A number of people advise for or against it in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. The most notable proponent is Berelain, who used seduction as a means to keep her tiny kingdom of Mayenne free from powerful neighbors. She tried to turn up the charm on Rand, who was mostly oblivious, and on Perrin, who was happily married. In general, genuine affection and respect win out over this trope for the good guys, and if it does work then it's a sign that the characters in question aren't protagonist material. Even the moderately-lecherous Mat is turned off by this trope.
* The Islamic Ummah has [[http://www.abigmessage.com/malaysia-the-obedient-wife-club-and-whores-in-bed-and-sex-toys.html "The Obedient Wives Club"]] with chapters, most prominently in Malaysia and also in Jordan, Indonesia, and Singapore. According to the Malaysian Chapter Spokeswoman, ''“Wives should welcome them with sexy clothes and alluring smiles when in the privacy of their homes.”'' Their Malaysian Chapter Vice-President sums it up, ''“If he needs sex, obey him. You must satisfy your husband. A good wife should be a whore in bed”''. Public Reaction has been mixed, even in Malaysia [[http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2011-06-05-3417604588_x.htm itself.]]

--> Try a reasonably large variety of sex partners before you settle down to your one-and-only. Don't be cowed by the term "promiscuity"--which, rightly defined, means indiscriminate sexual congress. Almost no girl, except a real prostitute who sells her favors to anyone who comes along, is truly promiscuous since most girls get hundreds of sex offers from men every year, and even if they accepted a score or more of these offers they would be far from indiscriminate in their selection. So don't surrender to the promiscuity bugaboo.
* In ''Literature/OnlyEverYours'' by Louise O'Neill, [[spoiler:Freida]] sleeps with [[spoiler:Darwin]] thinking it will make him fall in love with her and choose her as his "companion." [[spoiler:This leads to disaster for all involved.]]

* Inverted in ''Series/{{Glee}}'': Kurt (knowing Finn won't like it) encourages Rachel to dress like a slut to attract him. When she recreates Sandy's black outfit from ''Film/{{Grease}}'', Finn tells her she looks like a "sad clown hooker".
* Exploited in ''Series/RobinHood.'' Kate dresses up as a drunken and flirty tavern wench in order to provide a distraction for a man whom the outlaws are trying to con. Granted, she's not doing it ''specifically'' to get Robin's attention, but it does seem a rather interesting coincidence that the two become a couple in the very next episode.
* Subverted in ''Series/ToddAndTheBookOfPureEvil''. Hannah dresses up as a sexy rocker chick, complete with a short skirt and a low-cut shirt, in order to win the affections of the main character. She then climbs in through his bedroom window and makes some rather deliberate advances toward him. [[AvertedTrope Todd is weirded out]] by Hannah's behavior and remains [[SingleTargetSexuality fixated]] on his love interest Jenny. Later, she bemoans what she's turned herself into and switches back to her science geek wardrobe.

* ''Series/ILoveLucy'' features several episodes where Lucy tries to sexy herself up either because she thinks Ricky is not paying enough attention to her or because she's jealous of the young women he works with. One of the "country" episodes features the husbands lusting after a sexy young girl in a tight dress (played by a pre-''Series/IDreamOfJeannie'' Creator/BarbaraEden) so Lucy, Ethel, and Grace (aka "Country Ethel") glamorize themselves to compete for their husbands' attention.
* Subverted in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' Season 4 episode "Devil's Due", when Picard finds himself dealing with a very seductive and sensual female claiming to be Ardra, the devil incarnate (and therefore the legal owner to a planet that supposedly sold their souls to her in exchange for a thousand years of peace). When Picard wakes up one night to find her in his cabin, stating that she knows he desires her, he brusquely replies, "On the contrary. I find you obvious and vulgar." To her credit, the woman immediately offers to dress in more demure clothing, before shifting to the form of Deanna Troi to offer him "forbidden fruit." Neither offer succeeds.
* ''Series/{{Degrassi|TheNextGeneration}}'': Manny did this in order to stop being seen as [[TheCutie cute]] and win over a random one-shot character, but it's most remembered for helping her win over Craig.
* Subverted in ''Series/{{Zoey 101}}'': Quinn does this to get Mark back, but fails. [[spoiler: Logan]] does fall for her, but only after he puts her glasses back on.
* ''Series/TheBrothersGarcia'' had Lorenna wear a tube top and don '''lots''' of makeup to try and get a boy to notice her. Deconstructed then when he shows interest in another girl who isn't wearing makeup at all. Sonia gives Lorenna a BeYourself speech and suggests the boy went for the other girl because she was more confident in her own skin.
* In one episode of ''Series/That70sShow'', Kitty wants to re-acquire Red’s interest and asks Hyde’s [[ItMakesSenseInContext stripper wife]] to teach her some moves. [[spoiler:She finally succeeds when she accidentally gets her hair burned and changes her hairdo.]]
* Inverted in one episode of ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', where Hilary, a ValleyGirl-type, meets an attractive doctor while volunteering. She is frustrated as to why he's not interested until Will tells her that he's more of the intellectual type of person. She takes it to the extreme, wearing frumpy clothes and pretending she's interested in politics.
* A season three episode of ''Series/OneTreeHill'' has [[BadassBookworm Haley]], under the guise of [[LovableAlphaBitch Brooke]], who meant well but didn't have the same approach to relationships as her friend did, trying this at a costume party to win back her husband, [[BigManOnCampus Nathan]], who has left her because [[ItMakesSenseInContext she abandoned him and became a rock star a year earlier.]] To drive the point home further, she even ''dresses up'' as post-makeover [[Film/{{Grease}} Sandy]]. To say the effort fell flat would be a huge understatement. Haley even discusses how much of a flop it was:

* Invoked in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' when Sin has to dress like an actual prostitute to catch the VillainOfTheWeek. So Roy pretends that Sin has a date and asks his girlfriend Thea if she can borrow something slutty to wear. Thea donates one of her short skirts that she promises will guarantee a second date.
* Downplayed and discussed in ''Series/OnceUponATime''. When Mary Margaret begins her secret relationship with David, Emma says it's quite obvious based on the changes in her behavior, such as the "plunging neckline" in her wardrobe. When Mary is taken aback by this, Emma smirks and says, "When I first met you, you were a top-button girl." Cue Mary awkwardly looking down at her blouse. For what it's worth, the blouse wasn't overly revealing, but it didn't go up to her neck like previous outfits.
* ''Series/MyRosyLife'': The patriarchy of 2005 South Korea is reflected when Soon-yi's own sister Young-yi says that Sung-moon is cheating on her because she isn't putting enough effort into her appearance, and she needs to get tarted up to take care of her man's needs. She puts on some makeup and some lipstick, and tries to have some sex with her husband, but it doesn't work, as Sung-moon only has thoughts of his mistress.

* In ''Theatre/ReturnToTheForbiddenPlanet'', [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter Miranda]] tries this on Captain Tempest after he sings about how she's much too young for him. "[[SheIsAllGrownUp Good morrow, big boy!]]" It doesn't work quite the way she wants it--on the one hand, it ''does'' get the Captain's attention, but the robot Ariel has to remind her that it was her sweetness and charm that attracted the Captain to her in the first place, not a frou-frou frock.

** Subverted by the end of the song:
-->Girls! How is this helping? He's not even here!! He left while we were shaking junk!!\\

* ''Theatre/AChorusLine'' has "get implants to get your career" in the song "Dance Ten, Looks Three." The good dancer who wasn't getting roles until she had plastic surgery is perfectly fine with the results and encourages other women to do the same.

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', the normally shy Johanna becomes more sexually aggressive to endear herself to the protagonist.

* ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'''s case is... unusual. [[spoiler:Hanako doesn't change her appearance, but she ''does'' allow Hisao to have sex with her in order to change his perception of her as [[DontYouDarePityMe someone that needs to be protected]].]] It works, but only after she has to explain it. Furthermore, [[spoiler:the sex is [[FanDisservice obviously very awkward and uncomfortable for Hanako]] and Hisao feels horrible when he finds out the truth.]]
* The game ''VideoGame/{{Chulip}}'' is a weird GenderFlip example. The main character wants to win the literal girl of his dreams over, and to do so, he has to kiss as many townspeople as possible (age, gender, and [[LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy species]] indiscriminate) to prove that he's a popular and experienced guy.

* In ''Webcomic/PKComic'' Kate and Bo both advise Jess to act slutty to attract men's attention, Kate goes so far as to demonstrate by pulling a complete stranger with a cheesy chat up line and leaving with him.

-->'''Faye''': Yeah, but you ended up marryin' dad. How'd you get him to pick you instead of the other girl?
-->'''Faye's Mom''': Oh, that was easy. I just put out first.
-->'''Faye''': '''MOM!'''
-->'''Faye's Mom''': Well, I didn't say it was EXACTLY like your situation!

** In the same episode, Meg got one of these makeovers. Everybody was nicer to her and [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext she lost her virginity to Jimmy Fallon.]]]]

** Wendy does it again in the episode "Bebe's Boobs Destroy Society," getting a set of massive breast implants. However the guys have just gotten over their infatuation with boobs, so they just laugh at her.
** Interestingly subverted in "Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset," in which the girls dress and act like, well, stupid spoiled whores, but as part of a fad that is an end in and of itself and NOT to attract male attention. In fact, the boys seem to be put off by the girls' new personae, and unlike the episodes where Wendy sluts herself up to attract Stan's attention, in this one she rails against the fad.
** Subverted yet again in "The Hobbit" when Wendy resists the sudden trend she inadvertently started of young girls Photoshopping themselves to attract boys. In the end, she reluctantly Photoshops herself and distributes it then begins to cry.
* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', where Mandy dons a similar look (complete with frizzy hair and a lollipop) to reject the new kid, 'Pif', that she's fallen in love with. Soon as he starts slobbering over her new look, he loses his air of coolness, and Mandy's able to "hate again".
* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales'' when [[AlphaBitch Melody]] makes over [[TheSmartGuy Bright Eyes]] to be 'cool' rather than a bookworm. Her new look and attitude completely backfire, causing an also-made-up [[TwiceShy Lancer]] to reject her at the same time she rejects ''his'' [[JerkJock new persona]]. The two get together [[BeYourself after reverting to their normal selves]], much to Melody's [[WrongGenreSavvy complete confusion]].
* Attempted by Lisa in [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E1LardOfTheDance an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' when she finds out that all the other girls in her class have already gotten dates for the upcoming school dance. Lisa dons a cocktail dress and heavy makeup in an attempt to attract a partner for herself, but all the boys she approaches have already been asked by girls sporting similar looks. She then desperately asks Milhouse out, but even he has already asked someone out. As Lisa demands he change his mind, she sees her reflection in his glasses and realizes this is not the way to present herself.
* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In "Bad Tina", Tina's new friend Tammy encourages Tina to change her style (complete with the typical middle school/junior high [[UncannyValleyMakeUp too-much-make up look]]) to attract Jimmy Pesto Jr. Tina eventually realizes the makeup (and getting "drunk" on her mom's ''non-alcoholic'' margarita mix) isn't really her and decides to go back to her old style.

* ''Film/{{Mermaids}}'': After seeing Rachel kiss Joe on New Year's Eve, Charlotte gets drunk and dresses up in Rachel's clothes and makeup, feeling that this would help her look more appealing to Joe. It works.

* ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'': Manny did this in order to stop being seen as [[TheCutie cute]] and win over a random one-shot character, but it's most remembered for helping her win over Craig.

Most (in)famously done in ''Film/{{Grease}}''. Commonly used in [[FanFic fanfiction]], leading to PossessionSue. Can be coupled off with CorruptTheCutie. Compare MyGirlIsASlut; contrast MyGirlIsNotASlut. Also compare BeautifulAllAlong (which this trope tries to be, with an unfortunate [[BeautyIsBad "beauty = slutty" message]]) and SheCleansUpNicely. When the trope is portrayed as an effective way to attract men, it may be because AllMenArePerverts. Often overlaps with OperationJealousy and TheTease. Contrast NoGuyWantsToBeChased, when the direct approach backfires.

* Siesta from ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero''. She is originally a kind, gentle and modest maid, but falling in love with Saito makes her push herself so much that she begins to use various costumes that enforce her sex appeal to try to seduce him. It fails.

** Subverted by the 2016 Live TV version. In this adaptation, Sandy is given a backstory in-which her parents have always had a lot of control over her life. This is emphasized by how she lies to them about going to study at her friend's house in order to secretly go to prom, of which her parents would disapprove since they never let her go to dances. With this backstory in mind, Sandy's decision to take on a "bad girl" appearance at the end of the show is clearly ''not'' due to the pressure from her friends to fit in, but instead due to Sandy's newfound confidence to be who she has always felt like she was on the inside, ''not'' who her parents (or friends, for that matter) want her to be. This is emphasized by Sandy's discussion with Rizzo right before the makeover, where Rizzo makes sure that this is something Sandy wants to do before they go through with it.

-->"I should've beat her where she beat me, in the sack."

* In the low-budget '90s film ''Film/TheGirlIWant'', bookish Amy enlists the help of two of the loosest girls in school to help give her a slutty makeover in order to attract the attention of football team captain Scott. What Amy doesn't know is that Scott has been admiring her from afar and has asked one of the school nerds to tutor him in scholarly subjects, thinking that Amy would notice him if he was smarter. Subverted big time when two eventually meet at a party, post-makeovers; Scott is repulsed by Amy's new look, while Amy thinks that Scott is making fun of her by spouting random facts. They eventually discover that they liked each other they way they had been before, and when the movie ends, Amy, back to being a studious good girl, and Scott, who is letting Amy tutor him, are a happy couple.

* ''Film/{{Mermaids}}'': After seeing Rachel kiss Joe on New Year's eve, Charlotte gets drunk and dresses up in Rachel's clothes and makeup, feeling that this would help her look more appealing to Joe. It works.
* Played every which way in ''Film/TheHouseBunny''. Former Playboy bunny Shelley falls in with a group of misfit sorority girls and helps them update their image, which greatly improves their standing on campus and helps several of them score a guy. Shelley herself falls for a guy who resists her every attempt to flirt with him, until the girls figure out he's one of those rare guys who's interested in (gasp!) ''conversation''. So she starts to dress conservatively and puts up an intellectual facade, with cringe-worthy results. Meanwhile, the other girls realize that they've started to become the same vapid, judgemental people who used to look down on them and decide to go back to their old frumpy ways. Eventually everyone settles on a happy medium.

* Subverted in ''Series/ToddAndTheBookOfPureEvil''. Hannah dresses up as a sexy rocker chick, complete with a short skirt and a low-cut shirt, in order to win the affections of the main character. She then climbs in through his bedroom window and makes some rather deliberate advances toward him. [[AvertedTrope Todd is weirded out]] by Hannah's behavior and remains [[SingleTargetSexuality fixated]] on his love interest, Jenny. Later, she bemoans what she's turned herself into and switches back to her science geek wardrobe.

** One episode of has Steve and Marcy falling out over his refusal to shave off the beard he's grown. Marcy finally wins by appearing wearing only some lacy black underwear and carrying an electric razor.

* In one episode of ''Series/That70sShow'', Kitty wants to re-acquire Red’s interest, and asks Hyde’s [[ItMakesSenseInContext stripper wife]] to teach her some moves. [[spoiler:She finally succeeds when she accidentally gets her hair burned and changes her hairdo.]]

* A season three episode of ''Series/OneTreeHill'' has [[BadassBookworm Haley]], under the guise of [[LovableAlphaBitch Brooke]], who meant well but didn't have the same approach on relationships as her friend did, trying this at a costume party to win back her husband, [[BigManOnCampus Nathan]], who has left her because [[ItMakesSenseInContext she abandoned him and became a rock star a year earlier.]] To drive the point home further, she even ''dresses up'' as post-makeover [[Film/{{Grease}} Sandy]]. To say the effort fell flat would be a huge understatement. Haley even discusses how much of a flop it was:
-->'''Haley:''' I mean, what did you think Brooke, that I could just dress up in tight, black leather and heels and smoking a cigarette and that it would win back Nathan's heart?\\

* Oliver Goldsmith's 1773 comedy ''Theatre/SheStoopsToConquer'' features an upper class protagonist who is paralyzingly shy around "proper" upper class women, but a bawdy seducer of women from the lower classes. When he accidentally mistakes another "gentleman" for an innkeeper, the man's daughter decides to run with it and play the part of a flirtatious lower class "tavern wench" in order to win the protagonist's heart.

* Mocked mercilessly and then torn apart in ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'''s two-part finale: after a series of embarrassing makeovers from Abe and Toots, Cleo completely tarts up Joan of Arc. She [[UnnecessaryMakeover hates the makeover]] but decides to keep it because it makes Abe say she's "hot" for the first time in the whole series. She stills ends up going to prom with JFK, because Abe is preoccupied with Cleo. Then JFK admits that he's liked her all along "even when she's not being a slutty whore" and they sleep with each other, just in time for Abe to realize ''he'' likes her and burst in on them.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales'' when [[AlphaBitch Melody]] makes over [[TheSmartGuy Bright Eyes]] to be 'cool' rather than a bookworm. Her new look and attitude completely backfire, causing an also-made up [[TwiceShy Lancer]] to reject her at the same time she rejects ''his'' [[JerkJock new persona]]. The two get together [[BeYourself after reverting to their normal selves]], much to Melody's [[WrongGenreSavvy complete confusion]].

-> ''"In ''Film/{{Grease}}'', what did Sandy do to get Danny Zuko? She had to ditch the poodle skirt and slap on a catsuit. In short, she had to dress like a '[[TheOldestProfession ho]]'."''

* Siesta from ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero''. She is originally a kind, gentle and modest maid, but falling in love with Saito makes her push herself so much that she begins to use various costumes that enforce her sex appeal to try to seduce him. It fails.

* In his book ''The Intelligent Woman's Guide To Manhunting'' Dr. Albert Ellis advises single women that the eligible men prefer to marry women who [[ReallyGetsAround have a good deal of sexual experience]] and [[SexIsEvil sexually conservative]] men are fascists, [[HelicopterParents under parental domination]] and under the influence of an [[HolierThanThou orthodox religion]]. He also says that in order to attract the right man, a girl should start [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbating]], [[TechnicalVirgin petting]] and she should also [[SexAsRiteOfPassage lose her virginity]] while she's in her teens. Dr. Ellis also recommends to young women they should become sexual gourmets before they marry by sleeping with a lot of guys and that a woman should have had, say, between 10 and 20 sexual partners by her wedding day:

* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', after the Faye-Dora-Marten [[TriangRelations Love-Triangle]] finally collapsed, with Dora and Marten winding up together, Faye heads home to visit her mother and unwind for a bit. After telling her mother the entire story, the old lady tells her that, back in the day, she'd been stuck in a similar {{love triangle}} with Faye's late father - and, obviously, won, resulting in the following conversation:

* In his book ''The Intelligent Woman's Guide To Manhunting'' Dr. Albert Ellis advises single women that the eligible men prefer to marry women who [[ReallyGetsAround have a good deal of sexual experience]] and [[SexIsEvil sexually conservative]] men are fascists, [[MeddlingParents under parental domination]] and under the influence of an [[HolierThanThou orthodox religion]]. He also says that in order to attract the right man, a girl should start [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbating]], [[TechnicalVirgin petting]] and she should also [[SexAsRiteOfPassage lose her virginity]] while she's in her teens. Dr. Ellis also recommends to young women they should become sexual gourmets before they marry by sleeping with a lot of guys and that a woman should have had, say, between 10 and 20 sexual partners by her wedding day:

* ''Film/ScandalInSorrento'': Violante is in love with Antonio, but he has eyes only for Agnese--mainly because Agnese is played by Creator/SophiaLoren wearing a series of tight dresses, while Violante dresses as the prim, reserved widow that she is. Caramella the OldRetainer then gives Violante some advice. She pulls off Violante's dress so that Violante is wearing only a slip, says Violante has [[BuxomIsBetter a great figure with nice breasts]], and says that if Antonio sees her like that he'll go for her. It works: after Violante [[LettingHerHairDown lets her hair down]] and puts on lacy, sexy nightclothes, the two of them are on the floor together as the movie ends.

-> ''"In ''Film/{{Grease}}'', what did Sandy do to get Danny Zuko? She had to ditch the poodle skirt and slap on a catsuit. In short, she had to dress like a 'ho'."''

* ''Film/{{Hobgoblins}}'' plays this one utterly straight, with the protagonist Kevin's girlfriend Amy starting off the film as frigid, prudish, and impossible to please (she calls him "pathetic" because he lost an impromptu mock battle against a friend who'd literally just gotten back from the Army). Then the hobgoblins use their MindControl powers to lower her inhibitions, which makes her go to the local nightclub and start stripping before her friends intervene. By the end of the film, it's clear both Kevin and Amy are happier now that she's "loosened up".

* ''Film/EarthGirlsAreEasy'' has an entire production number based on this trope, triggered when Julie Brown's character Candy suggests that heroine Geena Davis needs a makeover to recapture her distant [[spoiler:(and cheating, not that they know it)]] boyfriend's eye:

* ''Film/DangerousBeauty'': Marco Venier refuses to marry Veronica Franco because her family has no money for a dowry. Unable to marry well without a dowry, Veronica has no way to support herself except by becoming a [[HighClassCallGirl courtesan]], literally a whore. Marco eventually persuades her to become his mistress, and they live happily ever after (his wife is less happy about that).

* OlderThanFeudalism example from Literature/TheBible: Tamar ''literally'' pretended to be a prostitute in a plan that ultimately got her the son that the law, later codified in Mosaic law[[note]]basically, if you're a woman whose husband dies without giving you children, you marry his brother, if he has one, thereby making it still possible that you'll still have children, counted as being your deceased husband's. Onan didn't like that the children wouldn't be counted as ''his'', so when he did it with Tamar, he pulled out before ejaculating and was killed for it. Judah was supposed to let her marry his ''next'' son when he got old enough, but he, probably fearing that there was a curse on her, wasn't doing it even though he said he would, so she enacted the plan mentioned above[[/note]], entitled her to have from Judah.

* Subverted in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' Season 4 episode "Devil's Due", when Picard finds himself dealing with a very seductive and sensual female claiming to be Ardra, the devil incarnate (and therefore the legal owner to an entire planet that supposedly sold their souls to her in exchange for a thousand years of peace). When Picard wakes up one night to find her in his cabin, stating that she knows he desires her, he brusquely replies, "On the contrary. I find you obvious and vulgar." To her credit, the woman immediately offers to dress in more demure clothing, before shifting to the form of Deanna Troi to offer him "forbidden fruit." Neither offer succeeds.

* Creator/ChrisRock had a stand-up bit based on how past relationships shape the requirements for current relationships for men and women differently: "Women can't go backward in terms of lifestyle, while men can't go backward sexually." Basically, Rock told the women in the audience that if their men kept insisting on kinky sex acts, it was because a previous girlfriend did it for him.