The camera work and lighting can make a huge difference also.
"gotta love photoshop too!"
Works both directions,too. Here they try to make them look as bad as possible without makeup.
We all know what a hag Barbar Strisaid is, but saw a trailer of her in her new picture, she looks good. Hey guys it the professional make up, hair stylist fake skin color (sprayed tan). Oh yea, push up bra's and silicone your drooling at...a few of those gals are down right homely in the before pictures...
I'll bet you could find more beautiful women on any college campus...I have 4 granddaughters that could beat those before pictures by a mile..with their own before pictures...