If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must be a Muhfucka

by Tori Sampson

Combining West African folklore and contemporary American culture If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must be a Muhfucka follows four teenage girls as they grapple with societal definitions of beauty. In the fictional setting of Affreakah-Amirrorkah the four young women - Kaya Massassi Adama and Akim - are given an opportunity to live in a society where their individual beauty can reign supreme. But this opportunity comes at a dangerous cost.




Tori Sampson's hilariously provocative play doesn't ask the question "How much is beauty worth?" but rather "Why are so many willing to pay its price?"

Genres: Plays

96 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2021

Reviews

[Logann Terpack]

OOH this was a good one!! ironically am also writing a play rn that talks a lot about beauty standards and this gave me some new perspectives that inspired me for my own writing. i liked the very casual style of the dialogue and i thought it was very interesting overall

i took a star off for the ending scene because i don't love the "it was all a dream" trope like i genuinely think it would've hit harder if all that shit actually happened

[Lily]

Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE needs to read this play. What a ridiculously powerful look at beauty, friendship, the power of the divine, family connections and the ties that bind us. All of this and more packages in a play that had me literally laughing out loud and crying just a moment later. No spoilers but please read this brilliant play!!!!

[Isa Davies]

i really loved the magical realism!

[mengwe]

i really liked that!

[Kennedy Spitzer]

Honestly it was great. Felt like a fever dream and was funny, as well as had something to say.

[kai avery]

i think about the playwright's notes page of this play constantly (as well as the rest of it).
"A reflection of what Yahweh sees in us all." ain't that the dream.