I’m tough, ugly, oddly overlooked old emperor (5)
I believe the answer is:
mogul
'overlooked old emperor' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'i'm tough ugly oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'im'+'tough'+'ugly'='imtoughugly'
The alternate letters of 'imtoughugly' are 'MOGUL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mogul that I've seen before include "Powerful person, potentate" , "Mound of hard snow on ski-slope" , "bigwig" , "Magnate (from India?)" , "Powerful man" .)