Actress America Ferrera removed those colourful train track braces for the last time as filming for the fourth and final season of Ugly Betty wrapped last year, but the 27-year-old has admitted that she’s not quite ready to let go of her clumsy alter-ego just yet. America has held onto the frizzy wig, the thick-rimmed glasses and the huge metal brackets that were Betty’s trademarks, keeping them safe in memory of the character that made her famous.
‘I don’t suppose I will ever wear them again, even though there is talk of making an Ugly Betty movie,’ She said, ‘but it is nice to keep them because we defied the old show business belief that looks are everything, by proving that they aren’t.’
However, the British Orthodontic Society doesn’t remember the braces quite as fondly, questioning why the character was still wearing the ‘over-exaggerated’ appliance after three years. Spokesperson for the society Tracey Posner said ‘This is not a true reflection of orthodontic practice. It is highly unlikely an adult would wear braces beyond two years.’
She also hit out about the stereotype that braces were thought of as damaging to the characters appearance, saying ‘It is irresponsible of the programme makers to portray Betty as ‘ugly’ because she wears prominent braces. People who wear braces are not ugly. People considering treatment should not be put off by such a stereotype.’