kennedydaphne900

Born on a day that should have been perfect, twin sisters Kang Hana and Kang Dara entered the world with equal promise—or so it seemed. As the years passed, one blossomed into a vision of beauty, while the other became a shadow, labeled “ugly” by a society obsessed with perfection.

Hana grew up in a world where beauty and talent were everything, but she had neither. Ridiculed, dismissed, and treated as a joke, her only solace was a desperate dream, to become an idol and prove her worth to the world.

Yet the road to stardom is not kind to those who don’t fit the mold. Desperation leads Hana to make a fateful decision, one that transforms her life forever. But beauty comes at a price, and the secrets she keeps and the lies she weaves to sustain her new life may just be her ultimate downfall.

As Hana rises in the cutthroat world of idols, she faces a harrowing choice: cling to the fragile perfection she’s achieved, or rediscover the strength to embrace who she truly is, even if it means losing everything.

A story of ambition, identity, and the dark side of fame, The Ugliest Beauty asks the ultimate question: How far would you go to be loved?

THE UGLIEST BEAUTY

She chose to walk home even though her entire body ached. She didn't want to see her mom just yet.

Plugging in her earphones, she let the beat of Lovely Criminal by the kpop group Salts pulse through her.

The music was electric, so good that she forgot herself for a moment on the street.

Dropping her school bag, she slipped off the heavy blazer, tying it around her waist. Then, she let the music flow through her muscles.

She began to dance. Her arms moved fluidly, her body in perfect sync with the beat.

The choreography, etched in her mind from countless hours of practice, unleashed itself like a wild storm.

The song's fiery rhythm burned through her veins, carrying her anger and pain away in every sharp, precise movement.

For those fleeting minutes, the world around her dissolved.

Unbeknownst to her, a passerby stopped and began filming, captivated by her performance.

She moved with raw emotion, pouring her day's frustration into the movements.

By the time the final beats of the song faded, her hair was matted to her forehead, and sweat clung to her skin.

She bent to grab a water bottle from her bag, her heart pounding, when the sudden sound of applause startled her.

She spun around, finding herself face-to-face with a man in a dark suit. His smile was broad, his eyes alight with something unreadable.

"You," he said, voice steady, "are born to be a star."

Hana blinked, her guard instantly up. Was it okay to be alone with a stranger on the darkening street?

The man dipped into his pocket, pulling out a sleek business card.

"When you're ready," he said, handing it to her, "come let me make you a star."

chapter 11