Ugly Betty

Betty Suarez is a smart, hardworking woman from Queens whose wardrobe and manners stand out in the polished world of Manhattan fashion. When Bradford Meade hands control of Mode magazine to his son Daniel, Betty is hired as Daniel's new assistant, partly because her plain appearance puts her beyond his usual distractions. Thrown into a workplace that values style over substance, she uses intelligence, loyalty and street smarts to handle office politics while supporting her family at home. The series tracks how she grows professionally and personally, keeping her principles intact even as she adapts to a very different environment. She also makes unexpected friendships.

Ugly Betty premiered on ABC in 2006, created by Silvio Horta and adapted from Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela "Yo soy Betty, la fea." The adaptation translated the original's melodrama and humor for American network television while reshaping characters for a US audience.

The series and its cast earned wide recognition during its run, collecting multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and America Ferrera's lead performance was singled out, winning a Golden Globe and earning her broader industry attention; the show also earned additional awards.

Ugly Betty resonated beyond TV with its portrayal of a Latina lead who wasn't groomed to fit a Hollywood mold, helping shift conversations about diversity and body image on screens. Its satirical look at the fashion industry and soap-opera rhythms influenced later workplace comedies and dramas that aimed for more diverse casting and sharper social commentary.

Critics often praised America Ferrera's warm, grounded performance even as reviews varied on tone and plotting. The series mixes humor and telenovela-style melodrama to address family loyalty, class, cultural identity, workplace politics and societal beauty standards. Viewer ratings sit at a moderate level, reflecting a devoted fanbase and mixed critical sentiment overall.