The February release of the movie DUFF validated the secret fears of all of the girls to whom puberty was not so kind. Yes, it is true. Your friends really are hanging out with you to make themselves look prettier, and you really are the designated ugly fat friend (DUFF). This acronym could and should be amended to "designated underrated funny friend" in order to include all the girls who don't necessarily identify as "fat" but who are definitely the one in the friend group who is always overlooked by the boys.
Every group of girls has one, and if you can't pick her out, it's probably you. You're the one who is best buddies with all the guys, who can funnel like a champion, and who always seems to be left without a partner when it comes time to pair off and play games.
I can relate because I am the DUFF. I get it all the time: "You're so chill! You're so funny!" and my personal favorite, "Your friends are so hot!"
These are the standard compliments you will receive as the DUFF, but a night out will almost always bring these four questions:
1. Will you hold my drink?
This is your pretty friend's way of saying that she has found a dance partner and she knows that you won't. If you are asked to hold your friend's drink, you have permission to promptly chug it. After all, you've got nobody to impress, and you're funnier drunk, anyway, but you have to pay for your own drinks while boys will buy hers.
2. Will you take a picture of us?
As the DUFF, you are also the designated photographer. This is, essentially, your hot friends' way of saying that they will hang out with you privately, but they don't want their followers to see them hanging out with anyone lower than a hard 9. They know they all look better than you, anyway, and at least you get to have photo cred! The best way to approach the situation is to make sure they all come out blurry and otherwise unflattering.
3. Can you think of a caption for my Instagram?
Sure, you'll come up with the caption for the picture you weren't allowed to be in! Finally you can put your sense of humor to good use! They want something better than a basic girl caption, but they aren't actually going to use any suggestions you come up with. No matter how hilarious the play on the popular song lyric was, it is going to be captioned "Going up on a Tuesday!"
4. Can you hook me up with your friend?
This is how boys let you know that they are definitely not interested. Boys, let's get one thing clear: we can. Of course we can. As the funny friend, we are the ones our friends turn to in times of crisis, to get a brutally honest opinion. They trust us, so if we give you a good review you're probably golden. So can we? Obviously. Will we? No.
Don't be discouraged. If you are the DUFF, you will be fine. Pretty fades, but your sense of humor will be around long after your friends lose their college bodies.
