Iraheta and Orianthi performed the song on the Thursday, July 29, 2010 results episode of So You Think You Can Dance.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak concluded that "Don't Waste the Pretty" finds Iraheta "at her gravelly, soulful best, paired with a killer hook and an empowering message that certainly can’t hurt a generation of kids who’ll be spending their summers singing along to “Can’t Be Tamed” and “Rude Boy.”[1] Billboard writes that "'Don't Waste the Pretty' deserves to become for Iraheta what "Whataya Want From Me" was for Adam Lambert—a breakthrough record for an 'Idol' alum with outsize talent.

"[5] AOL Radio writer Matthew Wilkening writes that "Orianthi's soloing adds dramatic tension to the country-tinged, mid-tempo pop song as Iraheta advises a friend not to take verbal abuse from her partner"[6] Rodney Ho from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls Iraheta "a really talented singer" and hopes "that radio embraces this song, which is pretty catchy," adding that "top 40 program directors should give it a spin.

[citation needed] The original version of "Don't Waste the Pretty" appears on Iraheta's debut album Just Like You as the fourth track and does not feature Orianthi.

Iraheta has also performed the song acoustically on Entertainment Weekly's online show Realite,[10] Yahoo!