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Mask Girl: The Dark Side of Beauty and Self-Identity
Every girl who has gone through adolescence has likely felt the allure of the question, “What if I could become more beautiful? How would life change?” In the bygone days, classic “ugly duckling” idol dramas might have convinced you that only by transforming into a beauty could you secure a happy ending in love and life.
However, Netflix’s new drama adaptation, “Mask Girl” shatters this dream, delving deep into the consequences of an excessive obsession with beauty, showing that the only answer might be “losing oneself” amidst the anxiety and addiction to appearance. The show’s protagonist, Mo-mi Kim, who later becomes “Mask Girl” is initially a naturally cheerful girl who loves singing and dancing. Her dream was to be loved by everyone. However, as she grew older, her facial features didn’t align with conventional beauty standards.
Because of her appearance, even her own mother doubted her dreams: “How can someone with this face achieve anything?” In her professional life, her attractive female colleagues always seemed to get more attention, and she was often left to deal with situations others could easily escape. Even when faced with harassment on the subway or being taken advantage of, she was the one who ended up facing judgmental eyes.
