She lives in Clapham with her two children, Martin and Francesca Carmen. Her partner is Tony Arlidge QC.She has admitted to having facial and other cosmetic surgery due to her self perception of being ugly.

The biography commences with an eleven-year-old Constance attempting to get herself referred to a children's home. At this point in time, Constance feels that 'no one would miss me if I just disappeared.' She writes a letter to her mother and places the letter in her school embroidery bag. She then goes into the bathroom where she drinks bleach because it kills all germs and Constance's mother had made Constance feel as if she was a germ. She felt happy 'because tonight, if the bleach worked, I would die. No more tomorrows. Hip, hip hooray.'

Constance states that her story is not 100% true, as 'it's difficult to remember the order of things.' She says that so far, she has been a very private person and that this is the first time that her story is being told. She gives the reader a description of why the name that appears on her birth certificate, Constance, is not the name that her mother calls her, 'Clear' or 'Clearie.'

Constance describes the events which led to her bedwetting problem. Among other names, her mother refers to Constance as 'pissabed.' Constance's anxieties are easily attributable to the way in which her mother treats her. Namely, her mother, Carmen, treated her daughter in the most horrendous of ways. This woman was known to grab and squeeze her daughter's nipples, as well as grab what Constance refers to as her "minnie."

Over the course of her novel, Constance describes the atrocious abuse that she endured at the hands of her mother. Her mother came to England from Jamaica in the early 1950s. Her father, George, was of mixed race. The author also introduces the reader to other members of her large family, such as her sisters.

In her early years, Constance describes her visits to various doctors, who give their views as to the causes of and provide remedies for Constance's condition. Even when she was given a bed-wetting device designed to alert the user with noises and flashing lights, the problem did not stop. When Constance's bed-wetting continues, so do the beatings that she receives at the hands of her mother. Carmen constantly tells Constance that she thinks that Constance wets the bed on purpose.

In 1964, a man named Eastman begins a relationship with Carmen. He is from Barbados and Constance describes the magnificent meals that Carmen would prepare for him - more than she would ever prepare for her own family. During this time, Constance is still physically punished for wetting the bed. Carmen and Eastman join forces and inflict physical violence and mental anguish upon Constance.

In 1966, Constance gives a frank account of another traumatic memory from her childhood. She brings home her school photographs to show her mother. Eastman takes one look at the photographs and states how ugly Constance is. Carmen then goes on a rant, hurling abuse at her young daughter: 'Heavenly Jesus, sweet and kind, why have you given me a swine?' Constance relays this repugnant example of emotional abuse with honesty and directness. Carmen forces Constance to look at Constance's photograph, which depicts an unsmiling little girl. Owing to Carmen's harangue, the young Constance believes that she is ugly: 'With that my mother turned the photograph round in front of my face. I looked at it. I was actually very ugly. My head was too big, my lips were too large, I was covered in spots and my nose was too wide.'

In 1968, Constance relays an experience which is also of significance in her second book, Beyond Ugly. She relates the events of 31 January, her brother's birthday. He receives a remote controlled plane. Carmen deliberately and without any excuse whatsoever, aims the plane at Constance. The plane slices Constance's cheek - Carmen does this more than once.

In 1969, Constance takes the law into her own hands. By this time, she is twelve years old and is still the recipient of abhorrent physical and emotional abuse from Eastman. While Eastman beats her, mommy looks on with concern - she is worried that if Eastman hits her daughter in the face, someone will contact the police. Both the bed-wetting and beatings continue and it seems as if Constance has nowhere to turn. After a particularly bad altercation, Constance attends the Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court. After seven days, Eastman receives a summons. Constance displays her assertive side and tells him: 'What are you going to do, Eastman? Put my head through another window? Save your reasons until we go back to court and if you touch me again I'm going back to tell them, so you can do what you want.' During one of Constance's first court appearances, she shows the Magistrate her injury and tells him that she wants the abuse to stop.

As the years progress, Carmen's behaviour becomes uglier and uglier. For example, she demands money from her young daughter, claiming how much it costs to feed her. Clearly, Carmen has a distorted version of what it means to be a mother. At this point in time, Constance has secured a part-time job which does not pay very much. Constance still is on the receiving end of her mother's hostility and temper. Carmen twists the nipples of her own daughter and beats her with a 'split-split stick.' One of Constance's sisters, Four Eyes, witnesses the aftermath of the beating.

In 1970, Constance goes on a school trip which proves to change her life for the better in the years to come. It might be classified as a point in her life from which everything else becomes defined. When watching Crown Court at One on television, Constance decides that she would like to become a barrister. She makes an appointment to see her Careers Advice Tutor, who does little to encourage Constance. She belittles Constance and behaves poorly. When Constance tells her that she wants to attend Notre Dame the Tutor is very condescending: 'We all want to go to heaven, pet, but we're not all suitable.' A librarian provides Constance with a better level of assistance and upon leaving the library, Constance resolves to find a pupil-master as soon as possible.

Her class attends Knightsbridge Crown Court where she hears a case about some boys stealing handbags. She sees one of the barristers, Mr Michael Mansfield, whom Constance describes as being good-looking. She later encounters him on a more personal level when he comes up to the group of students during the lunch hour and asks what they think of the case. It is at this pont that Constance pipes up and tells Mr Mansfield that she would like to become a barrister. He hands Constance his card, which she puts in the top of her blazer. Her teacher tells her that dreams and hopes must have boundaries.

Constance meets Miss Korchinskye, to whom Constance refers to as Miss K, at school who shows genuine concern over Constance's welfare. Constance lives with Miss K for awhile and while there, not once does Constance wet the bed. In 1972, Constance learns that something terrible has happened to her teacher and for this reason, Constance can no longer stay at Miss K's house. Miss K provided an outstanding level of support to Constance and believed in her.

When Constance completes a Bachelor of Law, she informs Mr Mansfield of the good news, who then writes a note to Constance.

Beyond Ugly is a first-person narrative which is told in chronological order.

The novel begins in 1979, where Constance makes remarks about her facial appearance. She feels that she is ugly and that her face could benefit from improvement. She rings Harley Street Cosmetic Clinic in order to make an enquiry about how she should proceed. In her discussion with the receptionist, Constance reveals to her that she needs the surgery because she is 'ugly, ugly, ugly.' She then remembers a traumatic experience from her childhood where her mother refused to purchase Constance's school photographs because her daughter was too ugly.

When Constance meets with the surgeon, Mr Anthony, he tells her that her nose and mouth are perfectly acceptable. During the dialogue between them, Mr Anthony takes the time to find out a bit more about Constance and ensures that she wants the surgery for the right reasons. He reminds her that surgery is a 'big deal' and tells Constance is not ugly; she only thinks that she is.

Constance reveals that she works in a hospice in Lyndhurst Gardens in Belsize Park. One of the jobs that she was allocated was preparing bodies of the recently dead. Although she feels free and happy about the prospect of attending university, she thinks sadly of her teacher who befriended her, Miss K. During her interview to attend the University of Newcastle, Constance states that one of the reasons why she wants to attend the university is to be as far away from her mother as she possibly can. When the question is put to Constance as to why the university should accept her, she replies: 'Because I will take you.' She earns a place at the university, which she promptly accepts.

Constance then attends Freshers' Week, which makes her feel sad as everyone appears to have such straightforward lives. She comments that becoming drunk appears to be high on everyone's agenda, but Constance comments that she has never expressed an interest in alcoholic drink. Constance meets a sophisticated girl, who belches loudly, Jo. She is also introduced to Pauline Moulder. Constance then engages in a conversation with Professor Ellie, who is an expert in the law of evidence.

Constance goes to London to see Dr Anthony, to whom she has written about her upcoming surgery. She travels to Kings Cross Station and then takes a bus to Harley Street. The doctor calls Constance an intelligent woman and asks her again why Constance feels that she requires the surgery. Constance reiterates that she is ugly, a statement with which Dr Anthony disagrees. Constance states that: 'Ever since I have known myself I've known that I was ugly...' Dr Anthony then tells his patient about the operation she will undergo, rhinoplasty.

As finances are an issue, Constance works for seven full nights at the hospice. She also asks the matron if she can work over the Christmas holidays. Constance then takes the train back to Newcastle. She arrives at Leazes Terrace and goes to bed. She also resolves to go on a diet in order to save money.

On 22 December, Constance travels to 215 Camberwell New Road in order to find her father, who won the pools years ago and used the money to purchase houses. She goes to Offley Road, but her father was not there. Constance explains that her father usually resides in one of the houses he purchased, although Constance is unsure of in which house he currently resides. She tries to find him at the address on Ethnard Road where she sees her father's girlfriend, Delores, who has not seen her father. She then makes her way to the Oval (which is south of The River Thames). This is because she once stayed at this address with someone named Miss Lindsey, who is not available. Constance then goes to Kensington Park. She walks to the main entrance in St Augustus' Place and finds that the doors are locked. She sneaks under a gate and sleeps on a park bench.The next day, she walks to Camberwell, where there are public baths.

When Constance visits 215 Camberwell New Road, she find her father, George, in the garage fixing his Capri. She explains that she does not have anywhere to live for the next seven days. George is very reluctant to help her because he feels as if Constance should have given him more notice. Constance responds by entering the car and refusing to leave until her father helps her. George says that his daughter can stay with Miss Lindsey, who is currently in Manchester.

At the hospice, Constance describes how she prepares the bodies of patients who have died and how difficult it is to bathe the bodies when one is under significant time pressure. Constance returns to University, where J tells her that he has recently broken up with his girlfriend. They spend time together and become an 'item.' At the end of term, J returns home to Welwyn Garden City.

During the Easter break, Constance arrives for her surgery in Harley Street. She feels that she 'could die in her sleep and no one would ever know that Constance Briscoe once existed.' Constance then describes graphically the operation she endures, commencing with the surgeon stating that he will dislodge Constance's nose. After the operation, Constance looks at herself in the mirror. She remembers the time when her mother refused to purchase the photographs of her own child: 'She did not see why she should spend good money on photographs of me when I was so ugly.' When term commences, Constance is shocked and hurt when J ignores her. Jo reveals to Constance that J has a girlfriend.

Constance then starts a job at the Beefeater Gin Distillery in Kennington.