Ugly Betty Redefines Beauty, Creates Role Model
Beauty and Weight-Obsessed Society Could Learn From Show Characters
Feb 9, 2009
When Ugly Betty debuted on American television in 2006, many people automatically assumed it would be a show that would relentlessly make fun of some poor, unfortunate, aesthetically-challenged woman named Betty. Boy, were they wrong.
Betty Suarez
Even with her thick red glasses, obtrusive braces and loud wardrobe, Betty Suarez is arguably the most beautiful character on the show. No, she’s not physically attractive; she’s ethical, intelligent and kind. In other words, she’s beautiful on the inside. Betty is a lovable role model whose goodness rubs off on those around her.
Every week, the viewer watches as Betty, portrayed by America Ferrera, navigates her way through a sea of attractive and appearance-obsessed sharks in the ultra-superficial world of fashion magazine Mode.
The thing is - the sharks, deep down inside, are actually vulnerable and endearing angel fish.
Daniel Meade
Betty’s boss, Daniel Meade, played by Eric Mabius, started out looking more like a dog than a shark. A relentless womanizer, Daniel never thinks about the family business or the feelings of the women he romances. Then Betty bounces into his office as his personal assistant.
In the time that Ugly Betty has been on the air, the viewer has learned that Daniel is deeply insecure. He’s almost childlike in his dependence on Betty. Thanks in part to Betty’s influence, Daniel is evolving into a more compassionate person.
Wilhelmina Slater
The biggest shark Betty encounters at Mode is Daniel’s nemesis Wilhelmina Slater. Portrayed by the stunning Vanessa Williams, Wilhelmina is deliciously wicked. Her hell-on-heels approach to business and pleasure makes you love to hate her. Betty does her best to protect her boss, Daniel, from Wilhelmina’s schemes.
Over the course of the series, the viewer learns why Wilhelmina is so obsessed with taking over the Meade empire. She has daddy issues. In a memorable scene, Wilhelmina displays her awards in anticipation of a visit from her father, a U.S. senator. The senator ignores his daughter’s success and implies that she’s actually a failure because she is not an editor-in-chief.
Mark St. James and Amanda Sommers
Betty also contends with Wilhemina’s sycophant assistant Mark St. James (Michael Urie) and Mode receptionist Amanda Tanen Sommers (Becki Newton). These two are the funniest characters on the show with their barbed comments about Betty’s weight, wardrobe and personal life. Their pranks on Betty have been childish. Both Mark and Amanda frequently steal the show with their antics. Somehow, some way, Betty lets their words and actions roll right off.
Like the rest of the characters on the show, Mark and Amanda are vulnerable. Mark is under-appreciated at work and has struggled for family acceptance of his homosexuality. Amanda recently discovered that her mother was Fey Sommers, the late Mode fashion editor. Amanda still doesn’t know the name of her father. She goes on eating binges when nervous.
Betty’s Family
One of the most impressive things about Ugly Betty is that it’s one of the only shows on television that takes the viewer into the home of a Hispanic family. Betty’s father, sister and nephew are loving and supportive. After spending time with the close-knit Suarez family, it’s easy to see where Betty gets her strong work ethic, tenacity and self-esteem. The contrast between Betty’s home in Queens and her workplace in Manhattan is like night and day.
So Much More
There are many other wonderful characters on the show; there are no slackers in this cast, which includes Judith Light, Rebecca Romijn, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen and Mark Indelicato.
Ugly Betty is brilliantly written and, with every episode, gently reminds our youth and beauty-obsessed society that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Ugly Betty airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on the ABC television network.
 |
