an 'ugly duckling' that has become a beautiful swan [=an ugly/unsuccessful person or thing that has become beautiful/successful]
('informal') That dog of yours is '(as) ugly as sin'. [=very ugly]
The house is an 'ugly duckling', but it has a lot of potential.
(..) -No. The girl in the story was... my mother. I am that baby that she decided not to abort. That could've been me. That could've been my fate. Just because something looks ugly doesn't mean it's morally wrong. -What did you say, ma’am? Nothing. -Please share. I said... Just because something looks ugly doesn't mean that it's morally wrong. You think dead children aren't morally wrong? No. I'm just saying that... if you took up close pictures of my vagina while I was on my period it would be disturbing but it doesn't make it wrong. Excuse me? (..)2017 Lady Bird