WHAT IS PRETTY UGLY?
We are a collective of Australian women who share a common interest in zines, writing, and feminism. We publish the Pretty Ugly Zine on an annual basis in print form, featuring submissions of various descriptions from women and men all over Australia. This site has been set up to showcase this zine and to help foster a supportive community for women interested in all forms of writing.We want this site to be fun, informative, resourceful and an environment where feminist values and ideas are supported and valued. While this project is targeted towards women, we welcome and encourage the participation of pro-feminist men as well.

HERSTORY
This project was born out of a zine and collective called Kill the Real Grrrls that began late in 1999. The zine had a very small circulation but proved to be filling a void in the zine world downunder. From our perspective, Feminist, as opposed to pro-grrl or grrly material was seriously lacking in the scene at that time. Kill the Real Grrrls began with the objective to put feminism back on the map and in the minds of young women and men.The Pretty Ugly project was an expansion of Kill the Real Grrrls into something bigger and better. In 2001 the Collective was one of 10 applicants to receive funding from the Australian Arts Council’s Literature Board. This was used produce the paper zine and set up and promote this website. We are extremely grateful to the Board for their support.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
If there is one thing that guides what goes on here at Pretty Ugly it is our belief in feminism as a valid and essential movement to ensure the obtainment of equality for women and men. You do not need to identify as feminist or write about feminist subject matter to be involved in Pretty Ugly - this is just where we, the Pretty Ugly Collective, are coming from. Finding the time and space to sit down and write is hard in today’s fast paced life, that’s why having communities and networks of support like Pretty Ugly are important.

Pick up a pen, dig deep and be you, be ugly.

WHO ARE WE?
The Pretty Ugly Collective is presently co-ordinated by Kelly Elizabeth. Our core members and main writers of the zine are Louise, Cameron, Rijn, Erin, Emily, Lepa, Jo, Lia and Aimee. More info about us will be up soon.