The Status Game: How Presentation Shapes Who Gets Ahead with Alison Fragale

Five years ago I made a few TikToks where I leaned hard into self-deprecating humor — playing into every stereotype I thought my audience already had about me. Vain. Superficial. Not that smart. They went viral. Millions of views.

So I did it again. And again. For four years. It worked. I built a large audience on it. And I was exhausted from shrinking myself into a box that had almost nothing to do with who I actually am.

This week on Mirror Mirror, I sit down with Alison Fragale — organizational psychologist, professor, and author of Likable Badass — to unpack what's actually happening when women make themselves smaller to be liked, and what it costs them.

This is the follow-up to my conversation with Vivian Tu about the "pretty premium" — the research showing attractive people earn 10 to 15% more over their careers. But looking the part only gets you in the room. What Alison studies is what happens next: how you're perceived, how much people respect you, and why two women with identical qualifications can walk into the same room and get completely different outcomes.

We also get into the three verbal habits Alison says are quietly eroding women's credibility every day — and I admit to doing all three.

→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.LISTEN ANYWHEREApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/bh/podcast/mirror-mirror-with-amy-chang/id1876357199Instagram: @mirrormirrorwithamy#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics