Betty Suarez doesn't seem the type to be working at a chic fashion mag. She's not very stylish -- in fact, she's kind of homely. That's exactly why she's so attractive to the owner of Mode magazine, who hires Betty as personal assistant to his womanizing son, editor-in-chief Daniel Meade. Betty may be ugly, but she's plucky and kind. She becomes Daniel's unlikely ally in a hilariously brutal world. Equal parts soap opera, slapstick comedy, family drama, and surreal fantasy, "Ugly Betty" is an American take on the Colombian telenovela "Yo soy Betty, la fea" ("I'm Betty, the ugly"). That original show sparked tons of hit versions all around the globe.

There's a reason this story of a plain girl toiling in a world of beautiful people is so popular: Everyone can relate. Betty has to deal with media-mogul family the Meades and their loony infighting plus Mode's scheming creative director, Wilhelmina Slater, and her sneaky sidekicks. And Betty's loving family in Queens, New York, love to meddles -- always with the best intentions. All this, plus Betty's unhappy love life, and the way she throws herself into every new challenge, keep us laughing -- and rooting for her. Because no matter how crazy things get, Betty never gives up.