"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything"

Old quote I got from a girl waaay back. I'd say it's pretty true and reflects the sentiment in your post.

Confident, funny, charming women don't elicit positive reactions from sane, well-adjusted males?

I'm a woman who would hardly be considered "traditionally attractive" and it's always worked for me. People's opinions of your looks change based on how they view your personality.

Couldn't agree more. Actual personality and personability go much further than looks. It's just important to have that confidence and ease about you. Which, granted, may be hard if one's grown up thinking they are ugly. But once you get the tricks of smiling, reading others, and conveying a positive personality, the world opens up. Big time.