cinderella
n. countablen. the main character in a famous fairy tale who is treated poorly by her stepfamily but eventually marries a prince. You use this name to describe someone who has a sudden, dramatic change in their life for the better.
n. the protagonist of a traditional European fairy tale who rises from servitude to royalty. Metaphorically, a person who undergoes a sudden and dramatic improvement in status or circumstances.
She felt like a real Cinderella after getting the job.
The small startup became a Cinderella story when it was acquired by a tech giant.
Critics argued that the film relied too heavily on the Cinderella trope, suggesting that hard work alone rarely leads to such magical transformations.
From cinder + Italian -ella, as in little cinder girl. Compare French Cendrillon.