Ursula Riggs is one of the text’s two protagonists. Overall, she is the more dominant of the two protagonists in both Oates’s dedication to her character development and her role in the text. From her first introduction, Ursula Riggs refers to herself as Ugly Girl, a persona of her own making that reflects her positive interpretation of her lack of classical beauty. While this persona conceals an uncertainty and insecurity about her body and her place among her peers, Ursula also uses Ugly Girl as a tool to embrace an athletic model of femininity and refuse characterization by typical feminine standards, including submissiveness. As Ursula asserts, “What I liked about being so tall was I could look just about any guy eye-to-eye, even older guys on the street, or actual adult men I didn’t know. Unlike other girls, I didn’t shrink away like a balloon deflating if guys teased me or said crude things meant to embarrass” (11).

Ursula’s physical traits reflect her personality and characterization as a highly principled and brave individual. Throughout the book Ursula proves willing to confront those aiming to harm her or others. This is most on display through her aid to Matt after the bomb scare incident and when Pumpkin is abducted (233), as well as through her immediate confrontation of the Brewer twins when they bully her in the hall (114), and her attempt to confront her sister’s budding eating disorder head on, against her mother’s admonition (142).