All good things must come to an end, even TV shows.
Four years ago, I was UGLY. At least I thought I was, Hell I even felt it (still do at times). I had very little confidence in myself and by the way I presented myself, it didn’t help at all when I was with others. At the time, I hid behind my friends, my talents, the computer screen (and still do that too at times [more than somtimes, I’ll admit]). I engulfed myself in this shell with just my friends and the random people I would talk to online from my fandom. Little did I know that a TV show out of all things would help me with my issues with others, myself.
Ugly Betty is based of a telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea. The plot is simple enough. A more average girl applies for a job at a fashion magazine and on a whim starts as the assistant for the Editor-In-Chief. The show is funny, witty, and sends a great message of being proud of who you are no matter what and teaching others to embrace it.
Throughout the four years of the show, I have religiously followed the characters and their journey. I have laughed, cried, yelled, and thrown things at the TV, and yes, I have done it all at once, once or twice. I have spent so much of my computer time talking to this group of people who I found a similar love on it (Henry’s Honey’s, much love girls [and Ice lol]), writing fanfiction, and just talking about it in general. I noticed after all this time that as the show went on, I started to change, and one of the reasons, I know exactly why, and it was what was infront of me on TV.
Seeing Betty starting to grow and succeed in her job, with her family, with love, it gave me a mentality that I can do it too. My confidence started to grow, my attiude changed, and I have a more positive outlook on things (including myself, which is saying a lot).
Yes, the show had gone through hardships (Started at the writer’s strike and went WAY downhill from there), and„ unfortunately becuase of it, a lot of us saw the cancelling coming for a while. The day they announced it, I was in such a bad mood and it seemed that a part of my soul just died.
So while I watched the final episodes, I started to think about not just Betty’s but my transformation from when it all started, when I just turned 16. Yes, my look has changed. I look about the same though (but maybe a little taller), but my personality has changed drastically, especially when I am around people and situations that I do not know. My writing and grammer skills has changed A LOT and I thank all the crap ton of fan fiction I wrote (lol) and the people who helped me make some great moments that can only happen in my crazy fangirl fantasies (especially Erin who deserves a whole pool full of Sugarsticks xD).
It may be sad to sy this, but it’s true. I won’t say that Ugly Betty changed my life, but I won’t say that it didn’t either. It was mearly part of it, just keeping me going along. But it has been a part of my life, and to see it go was just surreal I guess. As I watched the title flash on the screen and change as Betty is walking away, living her life, I can’t help but cry, thinking that is all over. Betty and I went through our transformations together, it’s like losing a friend in a way.
So, goodbye Betty Suarez. Goodbye Ugly Betty. I will without a doubt miss you. And thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
From Betty’s favorite musical Wicked: Because I knew you, I have been changed For Good…
Keep on singing,
~Bridget