They were the girls that were ridiculed – some of them are still considered to be plain lucky. Nevertheless, they turned heads and cashed in on their unique looks to dominate the modeling industry. The six girls that I have put together have heard the word ‘ugly’ more than once. So they just changed its meaning to ‘pretty.’

My list of the ugly-pretty models in fashion:

1) Tyra Banks

She is fierce and one of the most successful models of all time. But early in her career, Tyra Banks faced hardships and harsh comments, because of her large forehead. She uses the term ‘Ugly – Pretty’ constantly on her show, America’s Next Top Model. Tyra learned to use the flaws in her face and make them work for her. When she gets in from of the camera she is nothing but lighting in a bottle. Watch her talk about her last Victoria’s Secret Show:

2) Lily Cole

This 22 year old British fox has been in the business since she was 14. Lily Cole is one of the first girls to aodopt the wide-eyed-look craze. Her beauty is unworldly; probably the closest one can humanly get to a porcelain doll. You can see her in campaigns for Galliano and she graces the cover of almost every worthwhile fashion magazine across the spectrum. Check out her at her Harper’s Bazaar Turkey photo shoot:

3) Diandra Soares

Diandra Soares put the ‘cat’ in catwalk. Apart from her curvy frame and individual walk, Diandra was set apart from the rest of the girls of her time with her rebel-child attitude. Bold and feline, she shocked the country in a runway show where she suddenly appeared bald. Then 10 years later after rocking every every hairstyle possible she did it again. I know many who think she’s not pretty, but fashion loves a dark horse and Diandra served things sexier and on her terms.

Watch her speak about things she loves and why she shaved her head:

4) Lakshmi Menon

A face once considered manly and not ‘beautiful’ began making waves in the international markets. This face belonged to Lakshmi Menon. A host of names believed that her face was too masculine and not as pretty as Bollywood. It was Anila Anand who spotted her in ’98. Soon the world couldn’t get enough of her. Campaigns for Hermes in her bag, she was selected as one of Style.com’s Top 10 Hype-Worthy Models for 2009. She now is a regular face on the runways of Paris, Milan and other fashion weeks around the globes.

Watch her interview for Vogue talking about her roots, and the people who stood by her through her career:

5) Stacey McKenzie

Ugly is a word no one uses for a supermodel. Stacey Mckenzie seemed to never care and turned it into a ‘distinctive’ look. With her big eyes and huge lips, she managed to work the camera and create stunning pictures. Now also a runway coach and a judge of Canada’s Next Top Model, Stacie continues to cash in on her modeling gift.

Watch her talk about being ‘distinctive’ and her runways walk coaching company, ‘Walk This Way’:

6) Lara Stone

Huge lips can be hot. A large forehead can make one seem smart. But leave it to model Lara Stone to make a gap between her teeth look sexy. The Dutch model is known as the ‘anti-model’ by industry insiders and is engagingly stunning. Unlike most models today, Lara Stone also has another lethal weapon under her dress: her luscious and bountiful curvy frame.

See her speak on Fashion TV’s first faces:

These are the girls that stood against everything considered to be ‘ugly’ in the modeling industry – and earned their high paychecks and credibility because of the very same ‘ugly’ faces. Pick your favourite model or let me know of other models that you think have the same quality. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

P.S. Read my piece on these girls in greater detail on my blog.