There is the notion that beauty is a blessing, specially for girls. Society tells girls they need to be beautiful, or that they are beautiful regardless of the standards. The ultimate goal of a girl should be to be beautiful. But as Isobel knew well, beauty was a curse. She was already used at people staring at her on the street, and at guys catcalling her, she was so beautiful she could have been a model. Her aspirations were different, however. She was an astrophysics passionate since she was a child. Isobel had always been the first of her class, also in university, and as soon as she finished her degree she decided to start a career in research. That was when her beauty proved to be a curse.
She had sent her curriculum applying for a PhD position at several research laboratories, and she was immediately contacted for an interview with the best. Astrophysics was still mainly a masculine field, specially in high positions, so all the interviewers were old males. Most of the interviews were a frustrating experience, as no one believed that a girl like Isobel could have such a curriculum. They never said it, but she was too beautiful to be so smart. Luckily, one of the professors she interviewed with was able to see past her beauty, and she obtained a research position. Isobel was hard working and happy with her job, it was everything she had ever asked for.
It didn't last long. Some people jealous of her success, suggested she had only obtained the place because of her good looks. It didn't matter she proved herself capable, people still insisted she didn't deserve it. When she presented her work at meetings, it was received by condescending questions. No one believed it was actually her work. And worse, she started doubting about herself, wondering if people were right and she was unworthy of the place. She ended up convinced she needed to change her appearance to seem less attractive.
First, she chipped off her flowing golden locks, but it didn't work, as, apparently, she looked better with short hair. Next, she dyed it in a dark color, thinking that maybe that would make people take her more seriously. However, the dark color made her blue eyes stand more. She stopped wearing make up, and put on dark contact lenses, to no avail. She was desperate, what would make people take her seriously? She was completely obsessed about the need to become ugly, so she took the ultimate step.
When Isobel went back to the lab after her holidays no one recognized her, the plastic surgery had certainly paid off.
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