SOLVED. It's against the law to be "ugly." - Not the Uglies series. [s]

[Debra]

This was a short story in a science fiction anthology. I think it was published in the 1990's. In the story, it is against the law to be "ugly." In this world ugly can be getting pimples or having a small birthmark. Everyone is required by law when they turn a certain age to get a procedure done that will keep them beautiful their whole lives.

A teen girl does not want the surgery. She cannot understand why others don't have a problem having a computer change their basic structure. She files a lawsuit to give her the right not to have the surgery. Everyone is affronted, even her parents, that she would subject them to seeing her "ugly" state her whole life. How selfish she is ! Why can't she accept things like everyone else?

SPOILER ********

She looses the suit and is forced to get the surgery. If I remember correctly, as she is being put under the computer tells her not to worry, soon she won't care and will wonder why she made such a fuss in the first place. You realize it's not about being pretty, it's being made complacent to everything that is happening and not to question what everyone tells you is for the greater good. You get the sense the computer (not sure if it's AI) is in control of the people.

[Rosa]

It sounds a bit like “The Beautiful People” by Charles Beaumont. It was turned into a Twilight Zone episode. It’s in several collections. You can see them all here.

[Debra]

Rosa wrote: "It sounds a bit like “The Beautiful People” by Charles Beaumont. It was turned into a Twilight Zone episode. It’s in several collections. You can see them all here."

Thank you so much for the suggestion. I'll get a copy from Project Guttenburg and then let you know if it was it.

[Debra]

Thank you so much Rosa, this is it! Admin you can move this to solved.

[Rosa]

You're very welcome, Debra! I'm glad I could help. Do you know in which anthology you read it?

[Debra]

Rosa wrote: "You're very welcome, Debra! I'm glad I could help. Do you know in which anthology you read it in?"
Worlds of Science Fiction published September 1952. The title on the cover was "If"

[Rosa]

But you read it in the 90's?

[Debra]

Rosa wrote: "But you read it in the 90's?"
I did, the publication I listed above was where I reread it with your link. I have no idea what the original publication looked like, lol. I could have bought a book as a discard from a library. I honestly don't know. I do know I read it in the 90's because I was married in 91 and I read it after I was married.