‘Ugly’ dating agency celebrates first engagement

Britain’s first dating agency for ugly people was celebrating an unlikely milestone yesterday – its first engagement. Self-confessed ”great personalities” Tom Clifford and Janine Walker plan to marry in December following a whirlwind online romance. The couple met less than a month ago on www.theuglybugball.com – a dating website for the ”aesthetically challenged”. But after four dates – and a mutual love of junk food and TV dinners – they got engaged this week. Now the pair are planning a winter wedding near their respective homes in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.

Tom, 36, a carpet fitter who has a ”face that makes children cry”, said: ”I’ve been a joke to women for years because of the way I look. I always thought that I was too ugly to meet Mrs Right but my life changed when I met Janine. She’s beautiful and I love her in every possible way. I still can’t believe this happening.” Tom, who has been single since 1998, spotted Janine, 31, on the site in late August. His cover email read: ”Dear Janine, Just seen your beautiful face on The Ugly Bug Ball and would love to meet up. You live near me, so this shouldn’t be a problem.



”I’ve got a face that makes children cry but, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and I think you’ll love me too.” Incredibly, Janine, a shop assistant who lives with her parents, agreed. ”The rest, as they say, is history,” she said. The pair are now planning an intimate wedding for friends and family, and have already begun writing their own vows. They have also received a free honeymoon to Borth in Wales, courtesy of The Ugly Bug Ball.

Janine said: ”I appreciate that Tom isn’t Brad Pitt, but then I’m no Angelina Jolie either. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to me Tom’s the perfect, handsome prince. I’m just so pleased to have been able to meet him, and I’m head-over-heels in love.” A spokesman for the site said: ”This is our first engagement, and we are obviously delighted for them both. We offered them the trip to Borth because we have a company caravan there and wish them every success in the future.”