Ugly Beauty is the fourteenth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on December 26, 2018, by Sony. The album was co-produced by Starr Chen, Razor Chiang, Howe Chen, Øzi, and Tsai herself. Musically, it blends elements of pop, reggae, electronic, and hip-hop, and thematically explores the breaking of conventional beauty standards and the duality of human emotions. Tsai expressed her intent to "unveil the ugliness hidden beneath the surface of perfection and uncover the emotions that we struggle to bury".
The album was released in physical format in Taiwan, where it became the best-selling album of 2019. In Mainland China, it was released digitally and, as of April 15, 2025, has sold over 950,000 digital copies, making it the highest-selling digital album by a Hong Kong or Taiwanese female artist in the region.
Ugly Beauty received eight nominations at the Golden Melody Awards and ultimately won Album of the Year, while the track "Womxnly" was awarded Song of the Year. Following the album's release, Tsai launched her fifth concert tour, the Ugly Beauty World Tour, starting in Taipei on December 30, 2019, and concluding in Xiamen on August 18, 2024.
Background and development On July 26, 2016, media reports revealed that Tsai had begun focusing on the production of her upcoming studio album. On November 12, 2016, Tsai shared on Instagram that she had traveled to Sweden to collaborate with the music production company The Kennel, working with Hayley Aitken, Olof Lindskog, Johan Moraeus, and others. On July 18, 2017, her manager Tom Wang disclosed that the production budget for the new album would exceed NT$100 million. Tsai would also assemble her own creative team to write songs, produce music videos, and handle promotional activities.
Just two days later, on July 20, 2017, Tsai revealed that around 80% of the album's tracks had been completed. She also mentioned that she intended to adapt her music to suit her age and vocal capabilities, and confirmed a collaboration with Ashin of Mayday. On September 11, 2017, Tsai shared that two songs had already been recorded, though progress on the album was behind schedule. On March 1, 2018, she posted on Instagram that she had traveled to Karma Sound Studios in Thailand to collaborate with Richard Craker, Rhys Fletcher, Alex Sypsomos, and Stan Dubb. Later, on March 14, 2018, during the Michelin Guide Taipei 2018 Gala Dinner, she revealed that she had begun selecting the album's lead single.
On May 15, 2018, during an interview with Nylon magazine, Tsai stated that the album would contain eleven tracks, four of which had already been completed. She described the project as her "most honest album yet". On June 12, 2018, she noted that the album would feature a wide range of musical styles and was about 50% complete, with plans for a year-end release. On June 24, 2018, during an appearance on QQ Music's Big Star Show, she confirmed that the album would include her own songwriting and remain dance-focused in style. By September 12, 2018, reports indicated that Tsai had started pre-production for the new music videos. On October 4, 2018, her manager revealed that the album would be fully recorded by the end of that month, with photoshoots and music video filming to follow in November. On October 13, 2018, at Taipei Fashion Week, Tsai announced that the album was scheduled for a December release. Finally, on November 12, 2018, she confirmed via Weibo that the album recording had been completed.
Writing and recording
The lead single, "Ugly Beauty", features lyrics by Greeny Wu. Tsai revealed that she asked Wu to revise the lyrics four times. Wu responded by noting that Tsai's artistic demands had evolved from seeking external validation to pursuing deeper internal authenticity. The track blends a variety of musical elements, including playful lip-smacking effects, powerful drum and bass, and a rap segment in the latter half. Tsai also contributed to the composition and noted that it was the most time-consuming track on the album, as she explored multiple vocal tones and interpretations in the studio. "Hubby" is driven by an upbeat rock rhythm. Øzi crafted layered harmonies to enhance the song's lively atmosphere. Tsai expressed her hope that the track might one day become a modern wedding anthem.
"Womxnly" was inspired by the tragic Yeh Yung-chih incident. The song advocates for breaking gender norms and embracing all expressions of identity and appearance. It incorporates Southeast Asian instrumentation, tropical house, and dancehall influences. Emotionally nuanced and lyrically powerful, the track delivers a strong message of inclusion and empathy. "Life Sucks" is rooted in future bass. With a laid-back and slightly decadent vocal delivery, Tsai captures a sense of resignation in the face of life's everyday messes. She explained that the song is meant as a blessing for those struggling with issues they're not ready to face.
"Lady in Red" merges pop with mumble rap. Tsai uses a deeper vocal register to create a haunting atmosphere, describing the track as having the feel of a "ghost story". "Karma" rides a reggae groove. Its lyrics serve as a bold comeback to a heartbreaker, with Tsai conveying the message of living more brilliantly than those who hurt you. "Romance" combines classical piano with electronic textures, gothic rock, and R&B. Lyrically, it offers a stark yet poetic take on modern love, exploring what happens after the fairytale wedding ends. Tsai noted that the song reflects the often harsh realities that follow romantic ideals. "Sweet Guilty Pleasure" is built on bounce music. The lyrics are bold and direct, showcasing a seductive mix of sweetness and danger. Tsai described the track as a celebration of body awareness and the exploration of desire.
"Necessary Evil" uses hardcore rap to express the tension between repression and liberation. Tsai seeks to remind listeners that the fears within us are often less frightening than we imagine. The song fuses synthesizers, gothic rock, and trap to evoke a violent yet aesthetically rich mood. "Vulnerability" is rooted in retro soul-folk, with influences from hip-hop, rock, and soul. Its lyrics delve into the courage required to love, and Tsai emphasized that the track is about believing in the power of love. "Shadow Self" is based in alternative R&B and features soundscapes inspired by recurring imagery from Tsai's dreams. The lyrics draw from Carl Jung's concept of the "shadow self". Delivered in a whisper-like tone, the vocals convey raw emotion. Tsai explained that dreams represent a solitary spiritual journey, and that the song reflects a trust in the messages of the subconscious. The demo was created through an improvisational session by Huang Tzu-yuan, Mickey Lin, and Sam Ho.
Artwork and packaging On November 27, 2018, the first concept photo set for the album was unveiled under the theme "The Mouth of Truth". In one of the images, Tsai wears a red lip accessory by Shuting Qiu, paired with unsettling hand gestures and a vulnerable gaze—visually expressing the album's core message of challenging conventional standards of beauty. The shoot, along with the exclusive pre-order booklet, was created by photographer Zhong Ling and stylist Yii Ooi, featuring pieces from emerging Chinese designers including Pronounce, Shushu/Tong, Villa XRWA, and Windowsen.
On December 14, 2018, the second set of concept photos and the official album cover were released. This black-and-white-themed shoot features Tsai in a dramatic ensemble by Gareth Pugh—a black structured blazer, leather gloves, and thigh-high boots—symbolizing the legitimacy and depth of negative emotions, a central theme of the album. The imagery and official booklet were a collaborative effort by photographer Icura Chiang, stylist Tang Lai, and Tang's Formz creative team members Tungus Chan and Matthew Chan, with additional fashion pieces from brands such as Marc Jacobs and Richard Quinn.
The album's standard edition packaging was designed by Yen Po-chun, drawing inspiration from the myth of "Pandora's Box". Yen explained that the myth's themes of feminine energy and hidden hope resonated with the album's exploration of human duality—good versus evil, beauty versus ugliness. The pre-order limited edition featured four different fabric-covered box designs and included a 200-page photo diary.
Release and promotion On December 4, 2018, Tsai held a promotional event in Taipei, Taiwan, to celebrate the pre-order launch of her album. The following day, the limited pre-order edition, capped at 10,000 copies, went on sale and sold out within one minute. On December 26, 2018, Tsai hosted an album release conference in Beijing, China. In January 2019, she held two fan events in Taipei on the 20th and Kaohsiung on the 27th. By April 10, 2019, media reports revealed that the production and promotional budget for the album had exceeded NT$70 million. On May 18, 2019, Tsai held the Ugly Beauty Music Sharing Session in Shanghai, China.
Singles On December 21, 2018, Tsai released the single "Ugly Beauty". The song debuted at number one on digital music charts in Malaysia, Taiwan, and mainland China, and ranked within the top ten in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other regions. On December 26, 2018, the official music video for "Ugly Beauty" premiered. Directed by Muh Chen, the video's concept centers on "Jolin Tsai judging herself", portraying a reconciliation between her past and present selves, while revisiting her career's "dark history". With a production budget of NT$15 million, it became Tsai's most expensive music video to date. Within its first week, the video topped several charts: number one on Taiwan's YouTube trending weekly chart, number one on the YinYueTai's V Chart for Hong Kong/Taiwan music video rankings, and number one on Bilibili's overall weekly chart.
On January 4, 2019, "Ugly Beauty" reached number one on the Billboard China Top 100 chart, becoming the first-ever chart-topping single since the chart's inception. Other singles from the album also performed well: "Womxnly" peaked at number seven, "Karma" at number twenty, "Lady in Red" and "Sweet Guilty Pleasure" both reached number ten, "Hubby" peaked at number eleven, and "Vulnerability" also reached number ten on the same chart. On January 31, 2019, "Ugly Beauty" was awarded the number one spot on Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart, making Tsai the artist with the most chart-topping singles in the history of this ranking.
Music videos
On January 28, 2019, Tsai released the music video for "Hubby", directed by Jeff Chang. The video drew inspiration from 1980s Hong Kong movies and featured appearances by actors Sandra Ng and Ryan Zheng. On February 15, 2019, Tsai unveiled the music video for "Womxnly", directed by Ryan Parma. The video achieved significant acclaim, ranking sixth on Taiwan's 2019 YouTube Most Viewed Music Videos chart. On March 12, 2019, Tsai released the music video for "Life Sucks", again directed by Jeff Chang. In its first week, the video topped the QQ Music's Peak Chart for Hong Kong/Taiwan music videos and secured the number one position on Bilibili's weekly music chart.
On April 2, 2019, the music video for "Lady in Red" premiered, directed by Cheng Wei-Hao, with a production budget of NT$15 million. The video featured Taiwanese celebrities Dee Hsu and Jacob Wang. The premiere was held at the Vieshow Cinemas in Taipei. The video quickly rose to number one on both QQ Music's overall music video chart and Bilibili's music video chart during its debut week. The Beijing News praised the video for revolutionizing the traditional approach to music videos by moving beyond simple performance synchronization, calling it a "revelation" for audiovisual works in the music industry.