# Never knew I was beautiful...until I moved to L.A. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548 "2014-03-12T16:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/21 "2014-03-12T19:44:03Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > So, let me get this straight. We black men are idiots, so if it’s mostly us remarking on how good you look (which remains to be seen), it obviously can’t be true? You are half black, but hate your hair texture and skin tone? > > Yeah, I see the problem here, and it’s not insecurity. I see where you’re coming from, but it seems as if the OP is saying that the things that (she thinks) black men find attractive about her are the things that she doesn’t find attractive about herself. … which, written out like that, doesn’t sound like much an improvement, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/22 "2014-03-12T19:48:45Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > So, let me get this straight. We black men are idiots, so if it’s mostly us remarking on how good you look (which remains to be seen), it obviously can’t be true? You are half black, but hate your hair texture and skin tone? > > Yeah, I see the problem here, and it’s not insecurity. Good post. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/23 "2014-03-12T20:03:38Z")
You need to take the extra spaces between lines and move them so they’re after your commas. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/24 "2014-03-12T20:06:34Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > You live in LA? I would have guessed under a bridge. It’s against the rules to call other people trolls in this forum, don’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/25 "2014-03-12T20:18:02Z")
You don’t happen to be in a wheelchair, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/26 "2014-03-12T20:37:19Z")
> [@le fille intellectuelle](#): > > Anyway,I’ll get to the point,which is that ever since I moved from a small town in the Southeast to L.A.,people have flat out followed me,harassed me,told me I’m beautiful. Around here, they’re more likely to inquire about your general welfare. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/27 "2014-03-12T20:51:18Z")
> [@le fille intellectuelle](#): > > Mostly black guys,it seems like,feel the need to come to me & speak there deepest thoughts on my level of beauty. > > … > > Still the majority of the people that comment on my beauty are men,mostly black. Ya got a big butt, that’s what. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/28 "2014-03-12T21:44:18Z")
FWIW, I am white and I am approached on the street by more black men than white. I like that the guys who give compliments feel free to do so as long as they are not making rude comments. Most of them won’t harass you if you are clearly not interested. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/29 "2014-03-12T22:22:25Z")
Google translate says “le fille” means “the girl” and “la fille” means “daughter”. Is this incorrect? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/30 "2014-03-12T22:26:30Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Google translate says “le fille” means “the girl” and “la fille” means “daughter”. Is this incorrect? I do believe this is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/31 "2014-03-12T22:43:59Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Ya got a big butt, that’s what. Never trust a big butt and a smile. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/32 "2014-03-12T23:46:45Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Never trust a big butt and a smile. Bell Biv DaVoe Now you know. Seriously OP, if people have never told you that you are “attractive” before you moved to LA then sadly, there’s probably a reason. Southern California has such a high standard for beauty that most of its leading actresses wouldn’t meet it unless they were famous. The standard is so high that most New York “10s” are West Coast “7s.” They are probably just hitting on you and gassing up your head seems to them the fastest way to get into your pants. Sorry to be crass…but guys know that compliments work; that’s why most of us give them. If you are attractive , then great. However, that really should be the least important portion of who you are as it is usually the most fleeting. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/33 "2014-03-12T23:59:42Z")
Maybe you’ve just been hanging around really sarcastic neighborhoods. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/34 "2014-03-13T00:57:35Z")
If she wasn’t before, she is now. :rolleyes: (See? THIS is where the smirk works. Nowhere else.) ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/35 "2014-03-13T01:14:34Z")
Well this being the interwebs where people can be whoever they want to be, and the OP not having made a reappearance, s/he [could look like this](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nc9DGR0EszE/TOrKrn5h9WI/AAAAAAAAEoo/EblO_IbwvqU/s400/ugly-woman-12424.jpg) or [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Quentin_Matsys_-_A_Grotesque_old_woman.jpg) and nobody would be any the wiser. Or care, actually. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/36 "2014-03-13T01:22:44Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Well this being the interwebs where people can be whoever they want to be, and the OP not having made a reappearance, s/he [could look like this](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nc9DGR0EszE/TOrKrn5h9WI/AAAAAAAAEoo/EblO_IbwvqU/s400/ugly-woman-12424.jpg) or [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Quentin_Matsys_-_A_Grotesque_old_woman.jpg) and nobody would be any the wiser. Or care, actually. Shit! Gotdammit! Where’s the brain bleach! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/37 "2014-03-13T01:28:03Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Shit! Gotdammit! Where’s the brain bleach! Sowwy. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/38 "2014-03-13T01:36:44Z")
I share everyone’s skepticism about the OP (which is saying something coming from me), but I’ll try to come up with plausible ways the scenario could be true. The most likely is already given above, the one about the guys just wanting in her pants. The next I can come up with is that age old idea that the hottest women don’t get told they are beautiful nearly as often as those that are a step down. Everyone just assumes they know. Coming from a small town, there could only a few that would say anything, and she could discount them. However, in LA, she’d just be average pretty, and that’s exactly the point the point when people will comment. And, of course, she might have started working out or dressing better, or otherwise be more attractive by the time she gets to LA. Finally, there’s the racism angle. There’s the idea that a small town in the south might be racist and thus she would not be seen as beautiful, being not one but two outside races. There’s also the idea that said town isn’t quite that racist, but still has few black people, and she is only attractive in the stereotypical way that black people way. In that form, the racism comes from the stereotype that black men only like fat white-looking women. Well, I’m not sure if the stereotype is racist, but I’m assuming so since I’ve only heard black comedians bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/39 "2014-03-13T01:51:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I share everyone’s skepticism about the OP (which is saying something coming from me), but I’ll try to come up with plausible ways the scenario could be true. What’s your scenario for the OP not coming back? ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548/40 "2014-03-13T02:12:31Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > You don’t happen to be in a wheelchair, do you? Ha! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-knew-i-was-beautiful-until-i-moved-to-l-a/683548.md?page=3)