Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter
SKU: 61353685124

Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter

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Ugly: A Letter to My DaughterA tender, moving, and insightful account of queer motherhood and an interrogation of life on the margins of American culture as a self described "ugly" woman "A rigorous ladyballs out polemic that also tells the most raw, tender, against all odds story of parenthood that I've ever read." Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica Ugly is a word with fangs that can kill a woman's self esteem in one bite. Edicts about how women should look, behave, and think

A tender, moving, and insightful account of queer motherhood and an interrogation of life on the margins of American culture as a self-described "ugly" woman

"A rigorous ladyballs-out polemic that also tells the most raw, tender, against-all-odds story of parenthood that I've ever read." --Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica

Ugly is a word with fangs that can kill a woman's self-esteem in one bite. Edicts about how women should look, behave, and think are the brutal forge through which they are made -- not born -- as Simone de Beauvoir famously argued in The Second Sex. And to defy the pretty imperative is to experience a kind of invisibility. It can be a hard thing to admit to yourself, let alone to your child, to say the words "I am ugly" or "I am seen as ugly." But early on in her motherhood journey, watching her young daughter begin to wrestle with beauty standards, Stephanie Fairyington felt compelled to face her own demons and to unpack her own ugly self-perception, one that she could trace to her own childhood, in order to conquer this seemingly immoveable frontier, far too taboo even among women to broach: the ways in which women's lives are unfairly contoured by the nature of their looks.

The multiple iterations of ugliness that Fairyington saw in her young self--her physical appearance, her formative gender dissonance, and obvious lesbianism--are not present in her beautiful and traditionally feminine daughter. But Fairyington's old feelings of inadequacy take on new meaning as she confronts fresh insecurities around her role as the nonbiological mother in her relationship, exacerbating wounds from a lifetime of being treated differently, from the poverty of her genetic inheritance to questions about her parentage to doubts about the legitimacy of her family.

Interlacing cultural history and analysis with memoir, Ugly is a probing investigation into cultural norms and the formation of our aesthetic sense of self. Fairyington contrasts her so-called ugliness with her daughter's attractiveness and adherence to beauty ideals, a tender and tenuous condition that her daughter was already walking a tightrope to maintain at age six. By sharing the history of her troubled self-image, Fairyington invites us to go rogue, to invent a new language and logic to overthrow all the ways that women have been cultivated to hate themselves.

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SKU: 61353685124

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Paige
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Definitely worth the price
Size: 6.5, Color: Black/Black
Absolutely love these boots! I originally bought them to wear in NYC in December & they did not disappoint. They were comfortable, cute, durable and worked well in the slush/snow. The traction on the bottom is also nice! They kept me warm with wool socks. I wear them almost daily now. Perfect for everyday. easy to wear with variety of outfits. Good every day shoe.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2026
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Kimberly
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Snagged a deal
Size: 7, Color: Redwood/Gum 10
I waited and waited to get these boots! I knew I was chancing it, but they went on sale, and I snagged them! I am a size 7, and they fit nicely with socks. a little loose, barefooted, but what psycho wears boots without socks? They are comfortable and really well-made.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
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ashlynnk
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 4
Cute, comfortable waterproof boots (a little snug to put on)
Size: 7, Color: Velvet Tan/Gum 2
These are really cute Chelsea-style boots and feel very comfortable once they’re on. The waterproof material is great for wet weather and the sole feels sturdy with good traction. They look stylish enough to wear casually but still feel practical for rainy days. The only downside is they can be a little difficult to put on at first because the opening is somewhat snug, but once they’re on they fit well and feel supportive. Overall they’re a great waterproof boot and I’ve enjoyed wearing them.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026
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Abby B
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Surprisingly great for my wide feet and high instep!
Size: 10.5, Color: Velvet Tan/Gum 2
So thrilled I took a chance on these. Finding boots is impossible for me. I have wide feet, a super high instep, a bunion on one foot, and I wear a hard to find size (10.5). I ordered the 10.5 and 11 in these expecting I might need to size up for width (if I could even get them on). It was a struggle getting the 10.5s on the first time, and once I did they were somewhat uncomfortable on the top of my left foot. But I read that they would relax so decided to give it a go because I need waterproof boots for an upcoming trip and the 11s felt too long. After two days of light wear, they are already breaking in and I have no more discomfort. Getting them on is already easier and they are plenty wide enough and very comfortable to walk in. These are true to size. Super happy and worth a day of mild discomfort to break them in!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026
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Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Comfortable, sturdy, waterproof
Size: 9.5, Color: Black/Black
Loce, love, love these boots. Have walked ten miles with no foot pain around NYC. They go with everything and and are so comfortable. As they are waterproof/resistant, they get a little warm in high temps, but perfect three-season boots.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026

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