In girl cliques, there are always different types of girls. It’s like a universal law; never acknowledged out loud, yet understood by all. The types vary depending on the friend group but there are usually a few who can be found in most group. There is the naturally pretty one, the all-around athletic girl, the comedienne, and the mother. Over the years, I’ve tried to figure out which one I was. I knew I wasn’t the athletic one or the comedienne. For awhile I thought I was the mother but eventually I got tired of taking care of everyone and shed that archetype. I was in my second year of college when I realized there was another type. I realized, I was the almost pretty friend.
The almost pretty friend is pretty self-explanatory. She falls just short of being the pretty girl of the group, yet she’s not horrible looking either. From a guy’s point of view, she’s the girl he’d take home if all her other friends were taken. From a girl’s point of view, she’s the friend you know won’t be a threat when trying to pick up the cute guy at the bar. Ultimately, everyone likes this girl. There’s really nothing wrong with her. She’s fun to hang around, gets invited out on a regular basis, and can keep up with the rest of the group on every level. Except for her looks. When it comes to that, she falls just shy of being considered universally pretty.
There are, of course, indicators that distinguish the almost pretty girl. For me, it’s my body and my hair. I’m a little too chubby to be called skinny but not nearly heavy enough to be called fat. If I dedicated myself to losing a few pounds, I’d be just fine, but I don’t. As for my hair, if it’s not up in a bun, I’m forever trying to tame the flyaways and frizz. Unfortunately, this gives me a sort of disheveled look I’d rather not have. I could straighten my hair every day to obtain the picturesque look, but I never seem to have enough time. Essentially, the almost pretty girl knows exactly what’s keeping her from dropping that “almost,” but she doesn’t do it.
Now before you jump down my throat, I’m not trying to get the pity vote. The truth is, some people are just better-looking than others. I am not one of those people. I am not the girl who wakes up looking like a goddess. I’m not the girl the guy picks out in a bar full of women. I’m not the girl who has formal dates lined up a mile long. I’m the girl who gets called cute. The girl who struggles to make sure I put my best foot forward every time. The girl who worries about how others perceive me. That’s okay though.
It’s not always easy being this girl. You’re going to have some bad days. You’re going to feel like you don’t belong because you don’t look as great in the dress as you thought or your makeup is a little too forced. And yes, it’s going to suck. But being the almost pretty friend is more than just accepting what you are. It’s knowing that you have some great aspects and learning how to capitalize on them. It’s understanding that your personality is what carries you in a group and that isn’t a bad thing. It’s feeling secure in the fact that your friends like you for you, not because you’re drop dead gorgeous and bring all the guys around. It’s being able to be confident and forget about your flaws.
Being the almost pretty friend has its ups and downs, but I like to think it’s more ups than downs. It’s what you make it. So holla at all my almost pretty girls. We may not know how to turn every head in the room but we’ll sure as hell enjoy ourselves all the same..
Image via Shutterstock
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WineFirst_AskLater
WineFirst likes her wine white, chilled, and alone, although she's been known to share on rare occasions. In an attempt to not grow up, she procrastinates all things adult, such as not paying off her credit card bill and watching re-runs of Sex and the City. If you have any funny stories or new leads (or videos of kids falling down) e-mail her at: winefirst.asklater@gmail.com
@meg_lee_eliza
@meg_lee_eliza
