History Main / FansPreferTheNewHer

* In order for the censors to allow [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Mythra]] to appear in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' as a spirit and later, a fighter, she was given pants and had her breast window covered. Many fans admit that they prefer her new look due to either thinking it makes her look more badass, or liking the color scheme.

* While Kyo's [[FirstInstallmentWins original school uniform]] in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' is the most well-known of his various designs on the whole, Japan especially loves Kyo's NESTS-era reinvention outfit of a white jacket, black turtleneck, and jeans, to the point that it shows up as much or more than his classic gakuran in official promotions and crossovers as well as being a very popular subject of fanart.

* One of the fighters in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaJudgment'' was UnexpectedCharacter [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness Cornell]] who underwent a redesign from a standard werewolf into a black, armor wearing [[MonsterKnight wolf knight]]. Cornell himself hates it as being caught in the timeloops means he's stuck in his hated werewolf form until he can escape. Many fans utterly adored this new form and wondered why something like it wasn't his original design.
* During a nightmare sequence in ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder'', the hero Cal Kestis sees himself as an Inquisitor after being tortured into evil. That didn't stop many fans from loving his inquisitor outfit and it was later added as a playable skin to fan request.

* The ''Podcast/ActorsLifePodcast'' was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when barbers and hairdressers were closed - so a couple of guests had buzz cuts that they wouldn't normally have had otherwise. Greg Young and Jordan Lennon were noted to look better with them than their original styles.

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* Creator/AudreyHepburn these days is held up as a fashion icon for her thin willowy figure. This came as a result long periods of starvation during the Nazis' occupation of the Netherlands - which wrecked her metabolism and led to her rather early death at age 63.
* Creator/CareyMulligan's pixie haircut became a popular fashion trend. The only reason Mulligan cut her hair that short was because it had been ruined from constant dyeing, and she wanted to grow it back as soon as possible.
* Creator/JenniferAniston has not been quiet about how much she hated the iconic 'The Rachel' haircut she had on the second season of ''Series/{{Friends}}''. It became a [[NinetiesHair 90s fashion landmark]], while Aniston has said that the hairdresser was drunk when he cut it like that. She grew it back as quickly as she could.
* Creator/GinniferGoodwin hates having long hair, finding it a pain to manage, and prefers to keep it short - even insisting that if a role requires long hair, she'll just wear a wig. Doesn't stop a lot of fans from begging her to grow it back. [[SubvertedTrope And she ended up growing it out in 2018]].
* Creator/RoseMcGowan has sported short hair since 2016, even sometimes shaving her head, but the majority of her fans prefer it long. Despite Rose saying that she only kept it long out of pressure to get parts (bluntly being told that no men "would want to fuck you" if she didn't have long hair), and in her autobiography, she laments that her stylists made her look like "a plastic weirdo".
* Music/ChristinaAguilera sent MoralGuardians into an uproar when she adopted a HotterAndSexier image for her ''Stripped'' album. She refuted the criticisms, citing the image of her first album was entirely down to ExecutiveMeddling wanting her to be a squeaky-clean TeenIdol. She also pointed out that the more sexual image was entirely her own creation, and it represented her taking full control of her own music.
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* One of the fighters in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaJudgment'' was UnexpectedCharacter [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness Cornell]] who underwent a redesign from a standard werewolf into a black, armor wearing [[MonsterKnight wolf knight]]. Many fans utterly adored this new form and wondered why something like it wasn't his original design.

* In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', Steve Rogers now sports a [[BadassBeard full beard]] that puts Thor's to shame, reflective of the long months he's spent [[BeardOfSorrow separated from the other Avengers and on the run from the law.]] The fans were quite...''[[EstrogenBrigade vocal]]'' about their approval, to put it lightly, and many mourned its absence in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' as an UnnecessaryMakeover.

* A major story arc in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' involves the protagonist, Noctis Lucis Caelum, returning after a TimeSkip [[spoiler: where he spent 10 years trapped in the Crystal]], now PrematurelyGreyHaired, with his previous AnimeHair hair grown out to his shoulders, a dirty, [[BeardOfSorrow scraggly]] [[BadassBeard beard]], and [[BrokenAce scars and age lines]] all over his face. It's meant to reflect the terrible trauma he's suffered as a result of [[spoiler:spending an entire decade in the spirit world separated from his friends]], but the fans...didn't see it that way. Because he. Looks. ''[[MrFanservice Incredible.]]'' He actually looks awesome with grey hair, the BadassBeard adds some desperately needed maturity to his face, (not to mention softening his [[{{Bishonen}} frighteningly pointy chin]]), and the BarbarianLonghair looks much more reasonable for a hardened warrior than his previous "[[Franchise/{{Naruto}} Sasuke]] [[FanNickname haircut]]", and even the dirt and stubble [[UnkemptBeauty adds to his looks]] rather than detracting from them. More than a few approving fans have favorably compared his appearance to Franchise/JohnWick or [[VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt Geralt of Rivia.]]

* In the fifth season of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', to reflect how broken he has become, Jack has a neglected appearance with his hair untied and a BadassBeard. Many fans embraced his new design [[spoiler:and were disappointed when he returns to his classic appearance after finding inner peace and regaining his sword.]]

* Similar case with the show ''Scene Stealers'' where teenagers from one scene were made over to try and pass as those from another (i.e. a plastic was made into a goth). Some of the teens that got made over suited the new styles quite well, especially Michaela a goth who became Mikki a plastic. She suited the plastic look much better than the girl who made her over. A rude girl Gemma also got made over into a posh look that looked better without all the extra jewellery, etc.

* Creator/AudreyHepburn these days is held up as a fashion icon for her thin willowy figure. This came as a result of her being starved in a POW camp and gave her health problems for years.

* Creator/JenniferAniston has not been quiet about how much she hated the iconic 'The Rachel' haircut she had on the second season of ''Series/{{Friends}}''. It became a '90s fashion landmark, while Aniston has said that the hairdresser was drunk when he cut it like that. She grew it back as quickly as she could.

* In order for the censors to allow [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Mythra]] to appear in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' as a spirit [[spoiler:and later, a fighter]], she was given pants and had her breast window covered. Many fans admit that they prefer her new look due to either thinking it makes her look more badass, or liking the color scheme.

* In order for the censors to allow [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Mythra]] to appear in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' as a spirit, she was given pants and had her breast window covered. Many fans admit that they prefer her new look due to either thinking it makes her look more badass, or liking the color scheme.

* Mika Boorem's makeover in ''Augusta, Gone'' is meant to symbolize her character properly going off the deep end and when she checks herself into a teen rehab centre, the psychologist forbids her from wearing her punk-rock/heavy metal clothes. Compared to the extremes some rocker chicks go for, Augusta looks quite tame and actually suits the look.

* In the American version of ''The Experiment'', a dramatization of the StanfordPrisonExperiment, Travis has his long hair shaved off in a TraumaticHaircut - where the guards then piss on his freshly shaved head. Rather than getting shaved completely bald like his German equivalent, Travis just has a buzzcut - which actually suits Adrien Brody better.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Marge Simpson is not happy when a plastic surgeon gives her breast implants by accident and she spends the whole episode fretting about them, which of course means they're gone by the end of the episode. This one probably doesn't need [[RuleOfSexy any further explanation]].

A specific type of AudienceReaction. For every UnnecessaryMakeover, you're bound to find the opposite. This is the case where a character in universe (usually female) gets some kind of makeover. Her friends are horrified that she would change at all and treat said makeover as something awful or else spend a good time talking about how much better she looked before. Normally, because StatusQuoIsGod, the makeover will be gone and the character will be back to normal, though sometimes the friends may learn AnAesop that the friend dresses for herself and not to please them. However, Fans Prefer the New Her (or him). Perhaps if it's an EvilMakeover, then it might result from EvilIsSexy? The scruffy guy might look good in a business suit, a {{Tomboy}} might suit the GirlinessUpgrade, you get the picture.

See also UnnecessaryMakeover, BeautifulAllAlong and JustTheWayYouAre, which is what this trope is ''trying'' to be. Closely related is CriticalBacklash - and this is the fans having that to the character's appearance.

* The Franchise/DisneyPrincess merchandise does this with {{WesternAnimation/Mulan}}. Her dolls almost always feature her in the pink dress she wore for the Matchmaker in the beginning of the movie. However, Mulan herself was uncomfortable in it and it represented a lifestyle she did not want. It doesn't stop her from looking stunning when the makeover is complete though.

** The robot wives in both versions are forced into different outfits than they normally wear. In the original film it worked because Joanna, Bobbie etc were already very good looking beforehand - and they were forced into 1950s style dresses with too much make-up. The implication was that they looked like porcelain dolls. But in the remake, Joanna spends most of the film with a hairstyle that doesn't suit her and Bobbie is likewise dressed down - making the robot transformations come across as SheCleansUpNicely. The rest of the wives are likewise put into very flattering sun dresses.

* Fred and Velma in the live action ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' movie get possessed by demons that think all humans dress like beach party kids and so they get made over accordingly, which suits them. In fact, when Velma puts her [[{{Meganekko}} glasses back on]], she looks very nice indeed.

* Lampshaded in ''Literature/TheSagaOfDarrenShan''. Lady Evanna can take whatever form she wishes and occasionally makes herself stunningly beautiful. However her preferred form is a hairy human-wolf hybrid. When Darren asks her why she doesn't stay beautiful all the time, she says that the hairy form is how she was born and prefers it for that reason.

* The reality series ''Series/ExtremeMaleBeauty'' has the presenter Tim revealing his new self to his wife and friends who are all repulsed by it and the end of the last episode has him going down to the pub to start reverting to his old self straight away. While admittedly what he had to go through to change was excessive (long hours in the gym, crash dieting etc) he didn't look nearly as bad afterwards as his friends were saying. What's even worse is that the first episode has him thinking his wife wants him to change and she insists she doesn't but he goes ahead with it anyway because ''he'' wants to change. It also comes across as a rather mean-spirited anti-fitness Aesop; ignoring that the excessive methods Tim went through to get in shape are precisely what personal trainers advise ''against''. Namely he was trying to get in shape cold turkey in eight weeks - whereas most people advise making gradual adjustments in lifestyle.
* Similar case with the show ''Scene Stealers'' where teenagers from one scene were made over to try and pass as those from another (i.e. a plastic was made into a goth). Some of the teens that got made over suited the new styles quite well, especially Michaela a goth who became Mikki a plastic. She suited the plastic look much better than the girl who made her over. A rude girl Gemma also got made over into a posh look that looked better without all the extra jewellery etc.

** Lucretia looks very nice when she starts wearing her red wigs in Season 2. Unfortunately she's being forced to wear them by Ashur as a way of him asserting his dominance over her - and after he's brutally raped her. This is lampshaded when Illythia compliments Lucretia on how nice she looks with the red hair - only for the latter to shudder.
** Plenty of fans prefer Spartacus with short hair too rather than the long hair he has in the pilot episode...which is cut off in a TraumaticHaircut when he's captured by the Romans. Likewise he keeps his hair short during the war - when Crixus has grown his out - as a representation that the man [[ThatManIsDead his wife loved is no more]] and he can never go back to his old life.
* ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' - a Season 7 episode has Sabrina getting trapped in a colleague's computer and he uses Photoshop to turn her into a big-breasted bimbo in a tight pink dress. In-universe it's meant to be humiliating for her (though she does enjoy some extra attention) - but needless to say it's a pretty blatant example of {{Fanservice}}.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Sibling Rivalry", Lois gains weight when Peter gets a vassectomy, up until she becomes as obese as Peter. The show treats this as one of the worst things ever, though some fans (and [[ChubbyChaser Peter himself]]) believe [[BigBeautifulWoman she looks sexy while she was pudgy]].

* Happens a few times in ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}''. In "The Bands Break Up" Raya is disgusted by Kimber's new Misfits inspired makeup however fans either often prefer it or can't tell the difference. Similarly Roxy gets a makeover in "Roxy Rumbles" when she decides to change her life and many fans liked it quite a bit.

** 'Flutterbat', the FanNickname for Fluttershy's vampire bat form, is very popular in the fan fiction. This is ignoring the fact that Fluttershy was turned into it accidentally and the process was very traumatic for her and friends but she do willingly turn back into this form in a dream in a later episode.

** In the episode "The Mane Attraction", Applejack's fillyhood friend Rara has grown up to become a pony pop star, similar to Music/LadyGaga. This is treated as her being untruthful to herself, and in the end of the episode she stops dressing so flashy and changes her music style to ballads. Fans are mixed on this. Many preferred Rara the way she was before the final act.
* In the fifth season of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', to reflect how broken he has become, Jack has a neglected appearance with his hair untied and a BadassBeard. Many fans embraced his new design [[spoiler:and were disapointed when he returns to his classic appearance after finding inner peace and regaining his sword.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' during the "Terror of Trigon" arc, Raven briefly sported long hair and a white version of her costume due to magical influence. It was a ShoutOut to how she appears in the comics (she normally wears her hair long, and she temporarily donned a white costume after killing Trigon to celebrate her freedom from him), and many fans loved the new look. However she went back to her old style in the end just as a personal preference.

* Creator/AudreyHepburn these days is held up as a fashion icon for her thin willowy figure. This came as a result of her being starved in a POW camp, and gave her health problems for years.

* Creator/JenniferAniston has not been quiet about how much she hated the iconic 'The Rachel' haircut she had on the second season of ''Series/{{Friends}}''. It became a 90s fashion landmark, while Aniston has said that the hairdresser was drunk when he cut it like that. She grew it back as quickly as she could.

* Creator/RoseMcGowan has sported short hair since 2016, even sometimes shaving her head, but the majority of her fans prefer it long. Despite Rose saying that she only kept it long out of pressure to get parts (bluntly being told that no men "would want to fuck you" if she didn't have long hair), and in her autobiography she laments that her stylists made her look like "a plastic weirdo".

** 'Flutterbat', the FanNickname for Fluttershy's vampire bat form, is very popular in the fan fiction. This is ignoring the fact that Fluttershy was turned into it accidentally and the process was very traumatic for her and friends.

* A major story arc in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' involves the protagonist, Noctis Lucis Caelum, returning after a TimeSkip [[spoiler: where he spent 10 years trapped in the Crystal]], now PrematurelyGreyHaired, with his previous AnimeHair hair grown out to his shoulders, a dirty, [[BeardOfSorrow scraggly]] [[BadassBeard beard]], and [[BrokenAce scars and age lines]] all over his face. It's meant to reflect the terrible trauma he's suffered as a result of [[spoiler:spending an entire decade in the spirit world separated from his friends]], but the fans...didn't see it that way. Because he. Looks. ''[[MrFanservice Incredible.]]'' He actually looks awesome with grey hair, the BadassBeard adds some desperately needed maturity to his face, (not to mention softening his [[{{Bishonen}} frighteningly pointy chin]]), and the BarbarianLonghair looks much more reasonable for a hardened warrior than his previous "[[Manga/{{Naruto}} Sasuke]] [[FanNickname haircut]]", and even the dirt and stubble [[UnkemptBeauty adds to his looks]] rather than detracting from them. More than a few approving fans have favorably compared his appearance to Film/JohnWick or [[VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt Geralt of Rivia.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Sibling Rivalry", Lois gains weight when Peter gets a vassectomy, up until she becomes as obese as Peter. The show treats this as one of the worst things ever, though some fans believe [[BigBeautifulWoman she looks sexy while she was pudgy]].

* The Franchise/DisneyPrincess merchandise does this with {{Disney/Mulan}}. Her dolls almost always feature her in the pink dress she wore for the Matchmaker in the beginning of the movie. However, Mulan herself was uncomfortable in it and it represented a lifestyle she did not want. It doesn't stop her from looking stunning when the makeover is complete though.

* Madam Mim from ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone'' is an old ugly witch but for about half a minute, she uses her magic to transformation in a beautiful young curvy version of herself and then promptly transforms back to her old self, proclaiming she prefers looking ugly. Most fans disagree, which is why the majority of fan content features her beautiful version.

* In the final season of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Xander [[spoiler:has [[EyeScream his eye gouged out by]] [[SinisterMinister Caleb]] and consequently starts wearing an eyepatch.]] The fans loved it and it's almost unanimously considered to be his most iconic look, because of how badass he looks, and because the [[spoiler:EyepatchOfPower]] is an incredibly strong visual symbol for [[TookALevelInBadass how far he's come as a character.]] Xander is understandably not fond of it, because [[spoiler:losing an eye is [[CaptainObvious painful and inconvenient.]]]]

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