Beauty in "Sula"

page 28
Helene speaking: "Don't just sit there, honey. You could be pulling your nose."
...
[Nel] got out of bed and lit the lamp to look in the mirror. There was her face, plain brown eyes, three braids and the nose her mother hated. She looked for a long time and suddenly a shiver ran through her.

Questions:
1) Does the nose symbolize anything beyond being just a nose that Helene considers to be too flat?
2) If Helene is so grateful her daughter was born with plain features, why is she obsessed with Nel's nose?

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