History Main / BeautyIsBad

Compare the older trope MakeUpIsEvil. Contrast UglyCute (where it values personality more over looks).

%%* Azula from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' with [[Characters/TheLegendOfKorraAsamiSato Asami Sato]]. When this gorgeous rich girl showed up and immediately began a relationship with Mako, despite him seemingly being set up for a relationship with Korra, many fans immediately assumed she was TheMole and evil. This was only fueled by the discovery that her father ''was'' an Equalist, and a ''very'' short period of time where she pretended to side with him if only to get the upper hand as she rejects her father's justification of joining to a terrorist organization. And about her LoveTriangle between her and Mako, she is shown to be more mature to handle a relationship and its possible setbacks compared to them. [[BeautyEqualsGoodness In the end, she was as genuine as she seemed to be.]]

Compare the older trope MakeUpIsEvil.

* ''WebOriginal/BrigScarletFlamingo'' has its share of attractive heroes and average-looking or outright ugly villains, but two characters who are considered gorgeous by almost everybody are among the vilest of all:

* Rouge from the ''FranchiseSonicTheHedgehog'' series is a downplayed example. She is considered to be the MsFanservice of the series and happens to be a vain, sassy, and manipulative jewel thief, although she's [[AntiHero nowhere near evil]].

* ''[[Franchise/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon DanMachi]]: VideoGame/MemoriaFreese'':

** [[spoiler:Zelenin and Jimenez arguably qualify variation. Both start the story as attractive, and both have their [[ScienceHero good]] [[TrueCompanions sides]] and [[FantasticRacism bad]] [[OnlyInItForTheMoney sides]]. Both also undergo distinct FaceHeelTurn[=s=] by the end, where their bad sides get [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide far]] [[SocialDarwinist worse]], and they both get [[SpaceClothes much]] [[WalkingShirtlessScene sexier]]. Bonus points for it being ''Jiminez'' who gets the most {{Stripperiffic}} outfit too.]]
* Rouge from the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series is a downplayed example. She is considered to be the MsFanservice of the series and happens to be a vain, sassy, and manipulative jewel thief, although she's [[AntiHero nowhere near evil]].

* Consul D/[[spoiler:Blackblaze Dirk]] from ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' is a handsome Bishonen, even referring to himself as “quite the looker”. It doesn’t take away from the fact he’s a fearsome mass murderer, [[spoiler:let alone he collected the heads of the soldiers he slaughtered when he was Blackblaze Dirk.]]

** Gerold Dayne, also known as "Darkstar," has the traditional beauty of the Daynes but is arrogant, mean-spirited, has a "cruel tongue," and is eager to make a name from himself distinct from that of his family. He's also not above [[spoiler:nearly killing Myrcella Baratheon, a little girl, maiming her in the process]] if it means accomplishing that. For bonus points, Arianne Martell describes the trademark purple eyes of House Dayne as looking [[BlackEyesOfEvil black from a distance]] on him.

** Joffrey Baratheon, the eldest of Cersei and Joffrey's three children (nominally the children of Cersei's husband Robert Baratheon) inherited his parents' stunning looks, but is physically and emotionally abusive to his uncle Tyrion, his younger siblings, and his fiancée Sansa Stark, and governs the realm with [[TheCaligula terrible, petty decisions]].

** The first villains to appear are [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman the most beautiful woman in Westeros]], Cersei Lannister and her [[HalfIdenticalTwins Half Identical Twin]] Jaime--one being probably the most iconic evil queen since Disney, and the other being known by a name of "Kingslayer" and starting his story career by pushing out of the window a child, who saw the two performing {{Twincest}}. The eldest offspring this loving union has produced is said to inherit the best physical features of his parents and is one of, if not ''the'' most psychotic character in Westeros (despite having plenty of competition). In general, [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon being attractive and blonde]] is one of the trademarks of the Lannister clan, who are generally speaking ''not'' nice people. Tyrion, an ugly, deformed dwarf is by far the most compassionate and kind of the Lannisters (although he's also done some pretty questionable things), and Jaime's redemption proceeds along with the decrease of his attractiveness.
** Joffrey Baratheon inherited his parents' stunning looks, but is physically and emotionally abusive to his family and fiancee and governs the realm with [[TheCaligula terrible petty decisions]].
** Gerold Dayne, also known as "Darkstar," has the traditional Valyrian beauty of the Daynes but is arrogant, mean-spirited, has a "cruel tongue," and is eager to make a name from himself distinct from that of his family. He's also not above [[spoiler: nearly killing Myrcella, maiming her in the process]] if it means accomplishing that. For bonus points, Arianne describes the trademark purple eyes of House Dayne as looking [[BlackEyesOfEvil black from a distance]] on him.
** Downplayed with Loras Tyrell, whose trademark Tyrell good looks have garnered him plenty of InUniverse fangirls. He's arrogant and cocky but isn't really a terrible person. [[spoiler: And then he gets several major injuries attacking Dragonstone -- having ''boiling oil'' poured on his face included -- so it remains to be seen whether he'll live to subvert or invert this trope or not.]]
** The series also inverts this by having more unattractive guys as more decent, such as Ned Stark or Tyrion Lannister, but also averts this by having good-lucking nice guys such as Garlan Tyrell and Robb Stark.

* Asuka Langley Soryu from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. In '''spades'''. However, in her case, it's a [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of this trope: she's a hot bitch, yeah, yet not only doesn't she get away with her antics (Touji is annoyed to no end by her, Shinji puts up with it because he's deeply fucked up, Rei is indifferent most of the time, etc.), but she's subjected to a horrifying BreakTheHaughty process that reveals her terrible DarkAndTroubledPast.

* Any part played by William Zabka during the late 1980s. He seemed to have made a career out of playing pretty-boy bullies who thought nothing of acting as crappily as possible to anyone not as handsome, rich, and self-important as himself (the characters he played in ''Film/TheKarateKid'', ''Film/BackToSchool'', and especially ''Just One of the Guys''). It should be noted that, by all accounts, [[MeanCharacterNiceActor the former-actor-turned-Oscar-nominated-director himself is anything but a Jerk Ass]].

* Former ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}'' Playmate April Hunter, who debuted in Wrestling/{{WCW}} roughly a year after Sable won the women's championship belt, knew from the get-go she was going to run right into this trope. She eventually came to embrace it, putting together a trio with Taylor Made and Wrestling/AllysinKay that call themselves Made In Sin, [[CardCarryingVillain a name not]] chosen JustForPun.

* The bitchy, dim-witted (minus one) second wives in ''Film/TheFirstWivesClub'' are all noticeably younger and prettier than the titular characters (though they are all quite attractive themselves). Like the ''Film/{{Hairspray}}'' example below, it's implied that two traits simply go together.

* ''Film/{{Hairspray}}'' is a milder example, in that Tracy Turnblad, while chubby, is still usually quite pretty. The fact remains, though, that the thin, attractive Van Tussel women (and most of the other cast members on ''The Corny Collins Show'') are portrayed as being snobbish and cruel, apparently just because they ''are'' thin and attractive.
** While the Van Tussels remain just as horrible in the second ''Hairspray'' movie, the other attractive cast members are shown to warm up to Tracy. The black girls among the kids invited for Negro Day who are thin and attractive are nice from the start- it's primarily that being thin and conventionally-1960s pretty (which rules out both fat white girls and beautiful black girls) is bad in this setting.

* {{Subverted}}, but also {{Invoked}}, in the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' episode "Siren Says". Over the course of the episode, Jake starts to act in ridiculous and humiliating ways, and Lao Shi concludes that they're dealing with a Siren. Trixie suspects that the Siren is Danika, Jake's beautiful date. But later, it turns out that Danika was just being manipulated by the ''real'' Siren, the nerdy and [[HollywoodHomely (Hollywood) Homely]] Vicky, who banked on the idea that people would instantly blame Danika because everyone already thinks pretty girls are evil. Everyone present promptly give Trixie a DeathGlare for her accusations.

** A similar example happened in "Don't Make Me Over" with Meg where she became a cute blond girl and a singer, but also a jerkass until she is humiliated on tv and returned to normal.

** In the "Be Careful What You Fish For", Miss Emily is the negligent owner of the Tiny Tots Preschool and Stewie brings it to Brian's attention. When Brian tries to confront her, he sees Miss Emily sunbathing and resorts to running interference with Stewie until he can have sex with her. He finally has Miss Emily arrested once he finds out she has a live-in boyfriend named Devin whom she never mentioned.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' with Asami Sato. When this gorgeous rich girl showed up and immediately began a relationship with Mako, despite him seemingly being set up for a relationship with Korra, many fans immediately assumed she was TheMole and evil. This was only fueled by the discovery that her father ''was'' an Equalist, and a ''very'' short period of time where she pretended to side with him if only to get the upper hand as she rejects her father's justification of joining to a terrorist organization. And about her LoveTriangle between her and Mako, she is shown to be more mature to handle a relationship and its possible setbacks compared to them. [[BeautyEqualsGoodness In the end, she was as genuine as she seemed to be.]]

* In the "The List" episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', after Kyle is voted the ugliest kid in the class, Abraham Lincoln tells Kyle that [[http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155928/abraham-lincoln ugly people develop character and kids who are considered to be hot rarely do]].

** Heather is this--basically all the male contestants agree that while she's certainly very attractive, the guys that aren't Alejandro ([[RelationshipRevolvingDoor Heather's on/off-boyfriend]]) are very careful to keep their distance from her, since they're all well aware of what her personality is like, ''especially'' after the first season.

** Courtney may also count to a lesser extent when she's on the Heel side of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor. It's mostly downplayed, but she's kissed more guys than anyone else on the show, and isnt't afraid to use her looks and flirt her way to the win.
** Alejandro. He's a lying, back-stabbing jerk, but is also the major MrFanservice of the show. Has anyone counted how many times he's ripped off his shirt?

* All the main villains in ''Literature/{{GONE}}'' are apparently either very attractive or simply drop-dead gorgeous. [[BigBad Caine]], [[DarkChick Diana]], [[TheDragon Drake]] -- even [[TheStarscream Penny]] is said to be pretty or "cute". And none of them are above murdering someone [[TheChessmaster either as part of a cold-blooded plan for supremacy]] (Caine), [[ManipulativeBastard apathetic and manipulative self-preservation]] (Diana), [[ColdBloodedTorture for the evulz]] (Drake), or [[RevengeBeforeReason as petty revenge for something insignificant]] (Penny).

* In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, Herald Talia's abusive father and brother were quite attractive, and as a result, she's wary around handsome men; the man she falls in love with is repeatedly described as homely.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', where the good guys are mostly ugly, the villain of the second and third movies, Prince Charming, is handsome.

Can overlap with AlphaBitch; AttentionWhore; BrainlessBeauty; DCupDistress; FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon; CruelCheerleader; LightIsNotGood; MuscleBeachBum; {{Narcissist}}; PeerPressureMakesYouEvil; PetitePride; PlasticBitch; PopularIsDumb; PopularIsEvil; RealWomenHaveCurves; SexIsEvil, SlutShaming and SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny. Can also lead to WastedBeauty if the character's bad traits ends up driving away those who were initially attracted by their beauty.

* The film ''Branded,'' attempts to deconstruct this, by having a wave of "fat acceptance" advertisement is actually part of a conspiracy to sell more burgers at fast food joints. Yes, if you're fat, you're a mindless drone literally feeding ([[MakesJustasMuchSenseInContext through giant invisible parasites on top of buildings]]) the evil corporations. [[BrokenAesop The movie]] [[SpaceWhaleAesop didn't handle it]] [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeonDrugs very well]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': The episode [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE5PrettyPoison "Pretty Poison"]] serves as a cautionary tale to many who completely subscribe to this trope's [[BeautyEqualsGoodness opposite number]]. Cosmetics designer Dr. Pamela Isley is a (seemingly) innocent, sweet lady with Old Hollywood esque bombshell good looks who secretly moonlights as the FemmeFatale eco-terrorist Poison Ivy and keeps a [[ManEatingPlant giant, mutant flytrap]] in her private greenhouse she implies has made a meal of other people before seizing a nosy Batman in it's TentacleRope.

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': Every single attractive girl whom Jack meets ends up trying to harm or kill him, or turns out to be Aku in disguise.

* The eponymous character in Tess Gerrittsen's "Series/RizzoliAndIsles" series is a die-hard believer of this. There is yet to be a single beautiful woman in one of the books who she hasn't immediately deemed dumb, bitchy, etc. However, this rarely turns out to be the truth--instead, it's a result of Rizzoli's irrational jealousy of good-looking women (because she's plain). There are a few moments where it is played straight--Joyce O'Donnell, a psychologist Rizzoli frequently clashes with and outright describes as "a vampire", is consistently described as beautiful, immaculately coiffed, dressed, and made up--and is an utterly despicable person, regularly communicating with serial killers and advocating for their release and constantly preying on Rizzoli' s insecurities.

* Literature/TheDiariesOfTheFamilyDracul'': Sadistic vampiress Elisabeth is frequently noted for her stunning beauty, to the point of easily seducing Zsuzsanna, who herself is very alluring.

** Anthony's handsome looks and BadassBaritone voice enchant nearly every woman he meets. He also is completely amoral with a ''serious'' case of ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.