Ugly Betty is joining the fray in fighting for young girls' self-esteem. ABC has announced a new public service campaign - Be Ugly '07 - to hit the web and the streets on December 30th. The campaign's aim - aside from scoring more viewers for ABC's hit dramedy - is to debunk conventional notions of beauty. The campaign's slogan - "Be real, be smart, be passionate, be true to yourself and be ugly."

ABC, which pulled its plastic surgery show Extreme Makeover from the airwaves, is hoping to capitalize on the recent super-thin model backlash started on the catwalks in Europe and the Dove "Real Beauty" ads. ABC marketing executive Michael Benson would like you to know that redefining beauty is "in the cultural zeitgeist."