Ugly

The Stepsister's Story

By: Mary Mecham

Narrated by: Tawnya Rollingson

You probably know me as the younger ugly stepsister. The foolish, cruel stepsister...the girl who was so jealous of Cinderella’s charm and beauty that I forced her to dress in rags and do all the chores while my mother and sister and I did nothing, sitting in our rooms all day while Cinderella slaved away to serve us. That is not the way it happened at all. I wish I could jump right to the ball and Cinderella, but I feel like to really understand my side of the story, we need to back up a few years. Everyone always feels so bad for Cinderella because her father died, but no one remembers that mine did too. No one ever asks about what happened to my father. No one asks why I am considered ugly. No one wonders what my family was doing while Cinderella cooked and cleaned, or why the crown prince needed to hold a ball to find a wife.

But I'm here to tell you. I am the ugly stepsister, and this is my story.

©2020, 2025 Mary Mecham (P)2025 Mary Mecham

Enjoyed this retelling!

I thoroughly enjoyed this creative retelling! The premise is refreshing. It is rare to see the "wicked" stepsisters given their own story. Seeing "Cinderella" as the villain satisfied a part of my heart that has a soft spot for the villains. The world-building and lore were expertly handled, and the narrator did a fantastic job of capturing the tone of the story. Most importantly, the closure for each character felt earned and thorough. The HEA was incredibly satisfying, leaving me feeling like no stone was left unturned. Highly recommended!