Beauty in "Sula"

page 18
[Helene's] daughter was more comfort and purpose than she had ever hoped to find in this life. She rose grandly to the occasion of motherhood -- grateful, deep down in her heart, that the child had not inherited the great beauty that was hers: that her skin had dusk in it, that her lashes were substantial but not undignified in their length, that she had taken the broad flat nose of Wiley (although Helene expected to improve it somewhat) and his generous lips.

Questions:
1) Why is Helene grateful that her daughter isn't as conventionally beautiful as she is? Does she think her daughter will be better off in life because of her plain looks?

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