CCCWC January competition voters’ comments on Clue no. 17

A clue to PLAIN-JANE.
5 comments refer to this clue (from 4 competitors, 1 other)

Here is the text

Comments on the clue

1.	can't see this working as an &lit
2.	Pale and plain are different things – a question mark isn't enough to make up for it.
3.	Didn't get it, what have I missed? Apologies if this turns out to be the cleverest clue
4.	Not an "& lit". Requires some better definition.
5.	Don't see how it's '& lit.' (in which ALL the words are both the wordplay AND the def.)