Am I ugly?

I sent the following to my wife this morning in an e-mail. The response I got was a wonderful loving, caring response but I won't post her response for her privacy. She believes the opposite:), but this is MY view of myself.



After reading this, I want you to know that I am NOT putting this out there for sympathy. I just need to tell you this so I can come to reconciliation with it. This is my informal therapy.

Thinking back to when I was about 9 or 10 years old, I remember thinking I was ugly. That feeling stuck with me through the years. I was teased some but nothing too unusual and it wasn’t about being cute. I was teased about normal stuff (like having my pants too short). I had many girl friends that told me I was cute, etc. but I never felt that way. In eighth grade (14 years old) I was invited to a birthday party only to find out I was the ONLY boy there. The interesting part was that I was OK with it. And the girls loved having me there.

I’ve always been more comfortable around women & girls than I have around men. Now that I’m married to a wonderful woman and I have two beautiful daughters, I still feel that I’m ugly or not sexy sometimes. I know my wife loves me and tells me I’m cute & sexy, but I still don’t feel that way, until I transform into Kim. When I’m Kim I know I’m not the prettiest girl out there, but I still feel like I am pretty.

I guess that’s why I want to be a girl sometimes. I want to be pretty. I picture all women as pretty & I want to be like them so I can see myself like I see them. But in all of this, I don’t want to lose my wife & kids because of my need to feel pretty. I would rather live as an ugly male than live as a pretty female without my soul mate and the product of our love, our children. I hope she understands this.


Thanks for reading.

Hugs,

You look nice in your avitar. When I dress I think I look good maybe half the time... There is a filter between the mirror and you called a brain. Take photos from all angles and lighting and look at them a day or two later and you will see your opinion changes. I'll take ugly if it means passing, but generally what's most important is feeling good.

You are lovely. You shouldn't even be worrying. But, I have to disagree with you when you say, "I guess that’s why I want to be a girl sometimes. I want to be pretty. I picture all women as pretty & I want to be like them so I can see myself like I see them." I know plenty of GG's that are both horrid on the inside and the outside. None of that really seems to apply to you...so, be your beautiful self.

Kim -- You are a pretty woman. No arguments, please. As for how you look en drab, I'd rather not know, but if it's any consolation, I always feel much better about myself after I put on "my face" and throw on my hair.
I, too, am stuck in this inbetween world for the same reason as you. My wife puts up with me even though she doesn't understand. At this time I could not ask for anything better.

You are what you feel. when you are transforming, you are creating something and you feel pretty. and you are right. How ever, when in drab, you don't think so. Ok I know that I don't have movie star looks, but my SO is good looking and she thinks I am, so I must not be ugly. Give yourself credit. I neither think I am something I am not, nor do i put myself down. I think you make a cute girl, so it follows that you are probably a decent looking guy. Hope this helped.

Everyone is beautiful in some way or another. For me, it's personality before looks. One must never judge a book by it's cover. I have often found that the prettiest girls have the most rotten personalities.
Your personality is so much more important than your looks. It's sad most of us don't see it that way.

Kim, your avatar is great; you look very pretty indeed.

I do empathise with what you say though. In drab I feel so completely unattractive, though yeah I am still with my partner (33 years now) and have 3 great daughters and a grand-daughter of 3. But I have felt crap about myself all my life. As Kaz... the problem is I know I look awful (well, some pics work out okay - you don't get to see the 100s and 1000s that don't make it!), but I FEEL great! I have even gone walkabout as Kaz.. sometimes it has worked, others not so good (though that was probably me).

You look great though and I hope you got a great response from your SO.

Kaz xx

Girls thanks for the affirmations. I wasn't looking for it, but thanks.

Kim, I'm sure you weren't fishing for compliments, but you got some anyway. I agree; you look great.

I never considered myself particularly handsome nor ugly. Very average looking. Fortunately, a few girls in my life must have thought I was cute. Ask 100 people where I (male) rank on an attractiveness scale. Ask the same 100 people where my wife ranks. I guarantee she will score higher. So I somehow married "up" in the looks department. Of course, there's more than looks. Anyway, I live with what I got, in male mode.

In female mode, it's different. I'm able to change my looks to a greater extent than I can in male mode, and I do. Not everybody likes how I make up and dress, but I do. I have been out some, but mostly stay in, so I don't have to comply with anybody's fashion rules. I do what makes me happy, and I like the result. Again, it matters some but not much to me what others think. I know what I like, and I do what I like because it makes me feel [that I look] good.

As a guy, my self-image is just ok. Nothing to celebrate, nothing to mope over.
As a girl, much higher self-image. Just a fantasy, of course, since it's just part-time.

Kim,
You are a very pretty girl. More importantly, you are a lovely person. Inner beauty is more important that outward looks, but IMHO you have them both. It is easy to be critical of your own looks, but please recognize that you are not objective. Believe that you are pretty. While others saying so may be nice, you need to believe it yourself. You are pretty.

Hi Kim,

Interesting and revealing. I suspect that many of us have felt somewhat out of place at times, and especially different - which we interpreted as "deficient" or "wrong" or "bad". I'm sure many of us also that we liked being around other women, enjoyed dressing like them...and some of us wished we could become women to some degree...while this reinforced the notion that we were flawed. A full realization of our identities, including the feminine part, often doesn't come until we've also invested heavily in our traditional roles as male partners and parents. We shouldn't have to give up a loving partner or a family to fully be ourselves, although we know that many of us have faced this as well. I'm so happy that your wife is supportive and understanding...and that you can have all that you deserve as a whole person.

we all have a bit of those feelings in us. We feel pretty when we are a woman and I'm sure that that has something to do with our desire to dress.

If it's any consolation, after spending a total of 1 second of looking at your avatar, and from reading the content of your post you definitely are not ugly.

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Originally Posted by Jocelyn Quivers

If it's any consolation, after spending a total of 1 second of looking at your avatar, and from reading the content of your post you definitely are not ugly.

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Thanks. I know the female me is pretty. It's the male part I view as ugly.

just remember theres alot of pretty ggs out there that dont look so pretty without there makeup. then the ones that look beautiful with no makeup and hardly ever where any dont seem to be so stuck up either just my two cents , i pretty muck agree with every thing u said

You are not ugly. You are actually very cute and have a great smile. Plus your hairstyle is really a good one for you. Shall I go on?
Interesting you should post this as I have had some new feelings since accepting my crossdressing desires. Once I tried on that wig for the first time, I felt that I was on the road to being attractive.
And I can totally relate to how you feel. I once had an ex girlfriend tell meI was not "gorgeous to the hilt or worth dying for." Those are her words from 17 years ago. Yeah I still remember them.
It has stuck with me.
You have nothing to worry about cutie!

I thot if I married a beautiful woman, our CHILDREN would be pretty!:brolleyes:

Unfortunately, BOTH of my ex's daughters resemble their DADS!:doh:
And, in MY CASE, DARN!:Angry3:

R U ugly? I'm keeping my opinion to myself! People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!

If you're ugly, I'm the one whose face caught fire and they put it out with the back of a shovel; as they cruelly say in my neck of the woods; or; has a face like a bag full of spanners.
In you avatar I see a young atractive woman. What a burden to live with! If only we all had such a heavy weight to carry.
Your wife sees the person not the facade. She chose to be with you and continues to be with you for the person you are.
Anyway, who wants to look like Tom Cruise?

My beauty isn't what I see, but I how I feel inside.

My dear sweet friend, no one is ugly and everyone is beautiful in his or her own way. Please do appreciate what you have. You are elegant and poised. And you are a good human being. That is all that matters in the end.

It's weird. I felt that way growing up too, but when I look at (some of) my school pictures now I think, "Damn, I looked good!"

Of course, I don't think I look good now as a male--most of the time--but I suppose when I look back in 20 yrs.... :p

I have wondered if I do this because I can't see myself as attractive unless I am presenting as a woman. I doubt that's the primary reason, but it may be one small factor.

Glad your wife was so loving and supportive. :)

not at all!

I see Women working behind the make-up counters in Dept stores,their faces plastered with makeup,and wonder how do they look au naturelle.Looks alone dont define ppl,whats in ones heart can make you a lovely person.As for myself I dont consider myself pretty in any way.but when my wife says I look lovely I feel like the most beautiful person in the world :daydreaming:

:hugs:Sophie xx

Beauty comes from within and is always in the eye of the beholder! Viewing your avatar and reading your posts, it is very doubtful that you are an "ugly" individual, but one that judges yourself too harshly! Some moments in our life we may not feel, look, or perform in a beautiful manner, but we are always in our heart & soul an amazing creation.

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Originally Posted by SherriePall

Kim -- You are a pretty woman. ..........

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I'll agree with that. :battingeyelashes:

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Originally Posted by Helen_Highwater

If you're ugly, I'm the one whose face caught fire and they put it out with the back of a shovel;

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I assume you are joking. :rofl: TOO Funny.

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Originally Posted by Helen_Highwater

Anyway, who wants to look like Tom Cruise?

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Actually, my wife told me that just before we got married.

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Originally Posted by Chari

Beauty comes from within and is always in the eye of the beholder! Viewing your avatar and reading your posts, it is very doubtful that you are an "ugly" individual, but one that judges yourself too harshly! Some moments in our life we may not feel, look, or perform in a beautiful manner, but we are always in our heart & soul an amazing creation.

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You are right, I do judge myself harshly.

Kim, I understand where you're coming from and how you feel about yourself. My whole life, I considered myself an ugly duckling and envied the girls because they were all pretty. I could actually see myself as pretty when I dressed in girls/womens clothes. After having my first makeover, I felt like the pretty girl I always wanted to be.

Hi Kim, I'll tell you something if you promise to finish your cookies and milk and not to get a bighead,OK? You look very cute and you look very passable. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[QUOTE=Kim_Bitzflick;2277858]
Thinking back to when I was about 9 or 10 years old, I remember thinking I was ugly. That feeling stuck with me through the years. I was teased some but nothing too unusual and it wasn’t about being cute. . . . .
I guess that’s why I want to be a girl sometimes. I want to be pretty. I picture all women as pretty & I want to be like them so I can see myself like I see them.
[QUOTE]

Kim,
I always thought I was ugly as a stump as a man. Back in the day and at my best, cleaned up with a good haircut, fit and in nice clothes I may have approached ruggedly handsome, but still missed it by a good distance. My self image as a boy and later as a man has always suffered, but I'm only homely as a woman. And even a homely woman can wear makeup, cute outfits and get accessories to divert attention from the big nose, square jaw and brow ridge. I may not be pretty, but there is a seed of hope when I get dressed that maybe this time I'll find the right combination of things that will get me there. That never happens in man's clothing.

And if there is any question about the difference all of that makes, just look at the photo thread with the male/female pairs of images. Very few of the men would be considered really handsome (you know who you are, you devils), but the women are knockouts!

And here is the wonderful twist and the value of crossdressing as therapy. After years of crossdressing I'm finally feeling better about myself as a male. A lot of it has to do with things other than my appearance, but I can stand myself now. And Kim, I hope that the therapy you get from your dressing and being so pretty keeps your family together and happy, because that is the real goal here. We do what we can to feel good about ourselves and when that happens we can do more for those we love.

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Originally Posted by Samantha B L

Hi Kim, I'll tell you something if you promise to finish your cookies and milk and not to get a bighead,OK? You look very cute and you look very passable. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

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I won't get a big head, that would look silly on a girl!

Thank you

Well Kim I can empathize with you. As a guy I never felt particularly attractive. Sure I had a few dates, heck and have even been married twice. But self esteem not the best. Even in female mode at times feel awkward and gangly. It has taken a while for me to get it through my thick skull that Im not involved in a beauty pageant. Im just me. And sometimes I dont look half bad. I think a lot of us go through this. I tell you it sure is nice to have supportive friends and this forum

Kim you just keep being you and you'll do just fine.

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Originally Posted by msginaadoll

...... I tell you it sure is nice to have supportive friends and this forum

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You got that right. Thanks to all of you.

Ugly? Hell NO you're not. Just the opposite...hot!

Like many of the others who've responded so far, I can relate to what the OP has said. I, too, used to hate the way I looked when I was growing up (I think it was just the usual childhood angst about perceiving yourself to be the world's biggest dork), and although my feelings about my appearance have since thankfully done a complete 180, more or less (I wish I could remember when and how that happened), I still have moments when looking in the mirror causes me anguish. I've had recurring problems with the "heartbreak of psoriasis" - something that's always going to give one's self-esteem a battering (thankfully, though, the condition in question has lessened greatly in severity with the passing years) - and don't even get me started on my hair!

While I don't need to dress totally en femme to feel pretty, I do find that if I go too long dressing like just another average guy, my self-esteem starts to suffer. I've got quite a pretty face (hence the change in my feelings towards my appearance), and I always feel that I'm letting my looks go to waste if I don't wear any of the more feminine-looking items in my wardrobe: things which really do bring out those looks. Also, if I dress like everyone else, I feel like everyone else in turn is completely ignoring me, which is always a blow to the ego.

Sometimes I wonder if so many of us feel ugly in guy mode because for so long now (probably since the Industrial Revolution), men haven't been encouraged to look pretty - that, indeed, for a man to strive to be anything more than merely presentable is somehow "wrong". It's that whole thing about how men are valued more for what they do than how they look, and how, even today in these supposedly more equal times, so much of a man's worth is tied up in his "earning potential" (hoo boy, don't even get me started on that one!).

I have to agree with all here. You are truly a beautiful woman. And that has to cross over to the "male" side of you too. Someone with your depth and compassion for others can't have anything but beauty

As for me, I'd be happy with being "passable" en femme. But this body just isn't allowing it at this time. Sexy is the goal. Don't have it either female or male. Best I've ever gotten was "cute" as male and well not so flattering terms en femme.

I did pick up a neglected nighty I "bought" for my wife who hated it (said too tight). I thought she was hot in it. And wore it today. Well I filled it even more than she. The point is while wearing it I felt sexy. I know I didn't look sexyn but the feelings were there

Isn't that what it is all about, how we feel anyway?

I say, be beautiful!!

I think we all have those moments that we feel we are "ugly."

It's natural. We know best how we look when we are at our best, and when we aren't there, it subconsciously eats us up. I know that I go through phases where I'm completely happy with the way I look, and then I go through phases where I can't help but pick myself apart.

Same thing with anything even the least bit artistic I do. I always feel like I could do better, but everyone else says it looks good.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's natural to have those "I'm ugly" moments. The key is to not let those moments become you. It isn't positive thinking, it's remembering you're human, and to be human means you're never gonna be "perfect."

Hi Kim
Have you cleaned you mirror lately maybe thats the problem you sure look pretty to me.

Orchid

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Originally Posted by Elle1946

My beauty isn't what I see, but I how I feel inside.

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Kim, Elle makes a great point -- beauty comes from within, and the "within you" is the same no matter what you are wearing (but maybe la dress helps to bring it out). Your wife's response is wonderful, thanks for sharing.