An educational resource on what the world finds attractive.
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An educational resource on what the world finds attractive.
Please view on Desktop for best results.
South Korea prefers feminine or "cute" men, and they have the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita. In Japan, there's a focus on youth for women, and both countries are a huge market for men's cosmetics.
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China's beauty standards have special focus on height. Job applications routinely specify minimum height requirements for both men and women. Many universities and professional schools do the same.
Indonesia's cultural beauty standards are derived from its history of colonization by Europe and Asia. Formal wear is a mix of European suits, and Japanese kimonos, but light skin is often desired in women.
In India and other parts of South Asia, thick, dark, shiny hair is the standard for women. Perfume and jewelry are important for both men and women, and lighter skin is often considered most beautiful.
Iran has a strict dress code for women that has often appeared in the news. Outside of clothing, full lips and a curvy figure are desired in women, but having a small, pointed nose is especially prized.
In Ethiopia, the Mursi people are one of the few groups still practicing lip plates, and men of the Bodi tribe compete to see who can become the fattest by drinking a mixture of cow's blood and milk.
In rural provinces of Italy, until recently, plumpness was considered sexual, happy, and attractive for women. Generally the beauty standard is thin now, but it revolves closely around the health of the individual.
The Mende people of Sierra Leone are attracted to fresh and sweet breath. In general, West African beauty standards align with ideals of good behavior. The word "beauty" is often synonymous with "good."
Brazil has a reputation for beauty. There was a traditional preference for small breasts that has started to lose out to for North American standards. However, Brazil still highly prizes a thicker bottom / legs.
Argentina's beauty norms are largely tied to a European appearance, with a focus on hard work. From 1930 to 1970, the nation's beauty pageants crowned the "prettiest little worker."
Beauty is a huge industry in Venezuela. Miss Venezuela has won the most world beauty pageants, many Venezuelans will make weekly trips to hair salons, and beauty school is common for young kids.
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Since the post-war era - exemplified by Marilyn Monroe - beauty standards in the USA have revolved around hourglass curves and large breasts.
Universal Beauty
Evolutionary psychology believes there are physical traits that all or most people will find attractive, simply because of their biological programming as humans. However, there isn't much consistent evidence to support that theory, and beauty around the world seems to be more derived from cultural and social norms and priorities.
Across the world, across cultures, and across time there are only a few traits that seem to be considered universally attractive, because of biological programming or otherwise.
The first is cleanliness. Being clean and taking care of yourself is commonly held as attractive around the world.
The second is status. When wealth or power is consistently expressed by a physical characteristic within a culture, it becomes bound up in sexual attraction.
The last is fitting in with the "average." The average in studies is consistently rated as more attractive than any exaggerated features, and fitting the average characteristics of the culture you live in is often more attractive than being seen as an "other."
All of the information on this website was from
"Beauty around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia" by Erin Kenny and Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols.
Built with <3 by Max Mirho. I hope you learned something!