How much would we sacrifice to be beautiful? Though we all hope to love our bodies exactly as they are, it’s difficult in a world that values women based on their adherence to conventional beauty standards. This is not a modern phenomenon.

Dating all the way back to the 18th century, the Brothers Grimm were exploring this question in the pages of their collected fairy tales. Cinderella is the story of a beautiful woman hidden away by a wicked stepmother who is desperate to conceal her transcendent beauty. We’ve been told to view this older woman as a villain without considering the reason behind her unforgivable actions. Emilie Blichfeldt’s Oscar-nominated The Ugly Stepsister takes this folk tale back to its gruesome roots and presents all women as victims of a cruel and judgmental world. 

Elvira (Lea Myren) is an awkward teen with her head in the clouds and her heart in the hands of a poet Prince (Isac Calmroth). But her world is shattered when her new stepfather drops dead at his wedding celebration and her mother discovers that he had no money. Destitute, Rebekkah (Ane Dahl Torp) throws her daughter into steep competition for the Prince’s hand in marriage. But if she hopes to eclipse her beautiful stepsister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), she will need a makeover. Unfortunately, this involves several painful procedures, expensive finishing school, and a dangerous diet. When she finally makes it to the ball, Elvira can barely hold herself together for a Prince who may not be worth her tears. 

In the latest episode of Bloody FM’s The Lady Killers Podcast, co-hosts Jenn Adams, Sammie Roffman, and Shelby Novak welcome special guest Tumpale Mwakasisi while announcing a makeover of their own. With new show art and a video format, they’ll explore the high cost of beauty while sharing their experiences in a superficial world. Why does Elvira put her body through this painful transformation? How does Rebekkah justify essentially selling her child to the highest bidder? Is Agnes a sympathetic villain and are any of these men worth the pain? They’ll answer these questions and more while gasping at the disturbing history of plastic surgery and calling out a world that makes women compete for the approval of men.

Stream below and subscribe now via Apple Podcasts and Spotify for future episodes that drop every Thursday.

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