On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 07:25:41 -0700, Kernel Sandas wrote:

> You are walking down the street and see a girl with a perfect body and
> beautiful hair just ahead of you. You think she must be very good
> looking and want to see her face. You think about hurrying on ahead and
> sneaking a look back, or somehow making her turn round so you can see
> her face. Anyway, somehow you manage to get a look at her face and it
> turns out to be very plain or downright ugly.
> 
> Someone once told me there was a word in Japanese for this situation. If
> anyone knows the word or an english equivalent, please let me know.

(This is close to what you described.)

Main Entry: jo·lie laide
Pronunciation: zho-lE-led
Usage: foreign term
Etymology: French
: good-looking ugly woman : woman who is attractive though not
conventionally pretty