Awards season always brings its fair share of glitz and glamor, but for America Ferrera, it’s all about balancing red carpet elegance with a dose of humor and relatability.
The beloved actress, now a seasoned Hollywood icon, first captured hearts as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty and has since proven her versatility both on and off-screen.
Ugly Betty actress America Ferrera starred as Betty Suarez, a Mexican American woman known for her adult braces (Credit: ABC)
One of the most memorable moments from the hit series came during the fourth season when Betty finally removed her signature braces in the emotional episode, Million Dollar Smile.
The milestone symbolized Betty’s transformation while staying true to her authentic self, a message that resonated deeply with fans.
Betty Suarez has her braces removed in Million Dollar Smile, the 17th episode of the fourth season of Ugly Betty (Credit: ABC)
The Real Story Behind America Ferrera’s ‘Ugly Betty’ Braces
Originally aired on the ABC network in the United States on March 24, 2010, in the episode, Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) finally removes her trademark braces. In real life, America Ferrera never wore braces.
“I wore a retainer, but I never wore braces – people just assumed the braces were mine. But what I kept from Betty was my friends because the cast is my family, and they were all at my wedding, and we’ve all been to each other’s hospital rooms when babies were born and graduations and weddings and birthday parties and life moments,” she revealed in an interview with The Independent.
Ugly Betty after having her train-track braces removed (Credit: ABC)
Broadway theatre actress Kathy Najimy, who starred in Hocus Pocus as Mary Sanderson, played the orthodontist who removed Betty’s braces.
For the pilot episode of Ugly Betty, America Ferrera told NPR she almost had to wear real braces. At the last minute, they found an alternative.
“I was just terrified, but I was going to do it. They’re like, this is just for the pilot. And if it gets picked up, then we’ll find another alternative. So I was literally going to get braces augmented to my teeth for the pilot. And then we walked into the office, and this genius orthodontist who saved my life said he had come up with this contraption for his son’s Halloween costume. And it worked perfectly. So thank God he saved me from having to get real braces on.”
From Betty Suarez to the Red Carpet: America Ferrera’s Stunning Evolution
In January 2016, the then-31-year-old American actress shared a hilarious side-by-side photo of what awards season is really like for her after she appeared on the red carpet of the 2016 Producers Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles.
America Ferrera curls her hair for the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards held on January 24, 2016, in Century City (Credit: FayesVision / Charlie Steffens / Apega / WENN)
America wore a silk polka-dotted dress by Alexia Maria, jewelry from Nigaam, and the trusty ol’ Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” sandals in black patent. We think this look is safe, so not much can be said about it.
America Ferrera’s feet in strappy Stuart Weitzman sandals (Credit: FayesVision / Charlie Steffens / Apega / WENN)
We adore how the Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” sandals have earned their place as a timeless wardrobe essential. However, their ubiquitous presence on the red carpet leaves us craving fresh, daring fashion choices to elevate the overall look.
America Ferrera’s affinity for the Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” sandals is evident in her red carpet choices. At the world premiere of “Years of Living Dangerously” Season 2 in September 2016, she donned a black beaded Jenny Packham dress paired with these iconic sandals. The minimalist design of the “Nudist” complemented her ensemble, highlighting her ability to blend elegance with simplicity.
America Ferrera holds a black clutch on the red carpet (Credit: FayesVision / Charlie Steffens / Apega / WENN)
America candidly uploaded a picture of herself chilling at home in sweats beside a photo of her at the Producers Guild of America Awards, stating that it’s either red carpet or sweats for her during the awards season.
America Ferrera wears a silk polka-dotted dress from Alexia Maria on the red carpet (Credit: FayesVision / Charlie Steffens / Apega / WENN)
America Ferrera’s red carpet appearances highlight her flair for choosing sophisticated and statement-making footwear. From vibrant bubblegum pink pumps that turned heads to sleek metallic heels that perfectly complement her ensembles, her choices reflect an effortless blend of elegance and personality. To explore more about her standout style moments, check out our article on America Ferrera’s bold pink heels at the Oscars or dive into her glamorous look featuring metallic stilettos at a star-studded event. Each piece offers inspiration and insight into how her footwear elevates her red carpet charm.