What I Hate About Me
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this makeover show is targeting adult women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, but that doesn't mean that teenage girls won't want to watch. If they do, moms and dads should be aware that a few of the "problems" the featured women mention are superficial, and others aren't age-appropriate for younger teens -- including one woman's inability to have sex with the lights on. That said, other problems (and their subsequent solutions) impart universally positive messages for women of all ages (such as one woman's realization that she should be more assertive when dealing with her male boss instead of constantly apologizing for her perceived flaws). Expect some heavy-handed commercialism in the form of product endorsements and subtle advertising of "experts" who make a living by selling their services.
Community Reviews
a good show i like it alot im not sure what age group it would fall for i would say older teen to young adult. for now will watch more :)
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What's the Story?
Unhappy women tackle the 10 things they dislike most about themselves in WHAT I HATE ABOUT ME, a reality makeover show that challenges you to "learn to love what you hate." In each episode, host Lisa Arch guides one woman through a self-generated list of her biggest "flaws" -- both physical (like "I hate my moustache") or emotional (like "I hate that I'm constantly apologizing") -- and introduces her to various experts who can help her change each perceived negative into a positive.
Is It Any Good?
This makeover show mash-up gets points for spotlighting a broad spectrum of things in a woman's life that might need "fixing," instead of simply focusing on appearances and giving her a new haircut, a new wardrobe, and a lesson about the transformative powers of cosmetics.
But trying to fix 10 things in a one-hour episode comes off as overly ambitious ... particularly when some of the problems -- such as emotionally complex body image issues -- can hardly be dealt with in a matter of minutes. Having the featured women choose five things they'd like to change about themselves instead of 10 would have produced a show with far more meaningful take aways.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what message the show is sending women -- and young girls in particular -- about outward appearances and body image. How many of the "problems" are superficial issues that can be easily fixed? How many are internal and more deeply emotional in nature?
Do you think that the show's message -- that you should change things about yourself you don't like -- is ultimately negative or positive? If you don't like your freckles, for example, is it better to buy concealer and cover them up, or would it be better to change your perception of what's beautiful?
Why are these types of makeover shows appealing? Is there at least some part of us that feels better about ourselves when we see that others struggle with feelings of inadequacy, too?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 2, 2010
- Cast: Lisa Arch
- Network: Style Network
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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MADE
Goal-oriented reality TV with a happy ending.
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Tim Gunn's Guide to Style
Makeover show is solid, but not a runaway success.
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How to Look Good Naked
With pro-body message, reality show gets it right.
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