Cinderella
noun
Cin·der·el·la ˌsin-də-ˈre-lə 
: one resembling the fairy-tale Cinderella: such as
a
: one suffering undeserved neglect
b
: one suddenly lifted from obscurity to honor or significance
Cinderella adjective
Example Sentences
a company that is the Cinderella of the computer industry The team is the Cinderella of the tournament.
Word History
Etymology
after Cinderella, fairy-tale heroine who is used as a drudge by her stepmother but ends up married to a prince
First Known Use
1840, in the meaning defined above