Are both sentences OK and the same meaning?
"I like her so much despite appearances." and "I like her so much despite it appears otherwise."

Question

Are both sentences OK and the same meaning?
"I like her so much despite appearances."  and  "I like her so much despite it appears otherwise."

Answer

"I like her so much despite appearances" is fine, but 'I like her so much despite **what it may appear**" sounds more natural.

"I like her so much despite **the fact that** it appears otherwise" sounds better.

And yes, they both mean the same thing.