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I preface the following not to complain, but to provide context: I was called ugly repeatedly in middle school and am very biased toward that word and the people who use it to demean others. 

I’m not arguing that it’s not a true word when applied to me, just that it is a hurtful and unnecessary one.

Helen Rubinstein once said that "there are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”

This statement oversimplifies beauty by implying that it is solely a result of effort and cosmetics. 

It disregards the diverse factors that contribute to an individual's appearance, including genetics, health, and personal preferences. 

Not everyone has the same access to beauty products or the time to dedicate to an extensive beauty routine, and equating this with laziness is unfair.

The statement perpetuates harmful beauty standards that pressure women to conform to a particular, often unattainable, ideal of beauty. 

It suggests that a woman's worth is contingent on her appearance and the effort she puts into her looks, fostering insecurity and low self-esteem in those who don't meet these standards.

And it ignores the importance of individuality and self-acceptance.

Every person is unique, and embracing one's unique features and characteristics is a crucial aspect of self-confidence and self-love.

Reducing beauty to a matter of diligence and grooming diminishes the significance of accepting oneself as they are.