Everyone has their own idea of what beauty is and looks like. But in society at large, there are general standards, which people will strive to meet. With each decade, some new craze comes about, and the previous one that we all worked so hard to achieve gets forgotten. The world of beauty is a crazy one, and with more than a century of different fads, we would love to now explore them, decade by decade.
The Perfect Bodies According To Society A Century Of Beauty Standards
The Beginning Of The 20th Century And Its Gibson Girls
There was a time without electronic printers, believe it or not, where printing photographs and magazines, in general, was difficult and unaffordable for most. To deal with this shortage of lifelike images, towards the end of the 1800s, men like Charles Gibson drew incredible illustrations of women for fashion magazines. He would generally capture the likenesses of rich women with high status, portraying them with hourglass figures and immaculate posture. Don't forget, this was a time of extremely restrictive corsets being the thing! This became the personification of the ideal of feminine attractiveness. Having your drawing done by one of these great fashion industry legends was considered a true honor at the time.
The Beginning Of The 20th Century And Its Gibson Girls
The Queen Of The Gibson Girls – Camille Clifford
You cannot talk about Gibson Girls without mentioning Camille Clifford, who was viewed as the real-life Gibson Girl. Charles Gibson himself sponsored a competition to find a living version of his Gibson Girls, or in other words, his version of the ideal woman. When Camille stepped onto the stage, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was the winner. Camille won by unanimous decision and held the title of the realistic Gibson Girl, also winning herself a very respectable 2,000 dollars.
The Queen Of The Gibson Girls Camille Clifford
The Affluence Of The 20s And Its Flappers
Then came the ‘20s, a golden age for America where jobs were plentiful, the stock market was thriving, and people were getting extraordinarily rich by participating in it. Women were also coming up in the world. This new level of luxury, as well as a breath of fresh air of liberation for women, birthed the flappers, garments that were the virtual opposite of The Gibson Girl. The flappers abandoned the constrictive standards and clothing (like corsets) of Charles Gibson’s fantasy and were full of dazzling sequins and flares. They cut their hair short, and enjoyed the new privileges that the 19th Amendment brought them, such as the ability to vote!
The Affluence Of The 20s And Its Flappers
The Gorgeousness Of Margaret Gorman
There was one woman, in particular, called Margaret Gorman, who was the 1922 Miss America. This was a beauty queen whose body was worshipped for being considered the perfect flapper physique. Ironically, she also met the standards for The Gibson Girl look! Margaret Gorman is still highly regarded in modern culture for being an ideally slim and fabulous lady. Well, maybe among the older folks and fashion history fans alike.
The Gorgeousness Of Margaret Gorman
America In Crisis – The Humble Trends Of The 30s
But this affluent era of the 20s was doomed for a crushing downfall. The beginning of the 30s also marked the start of The Great Depression, when the stock market crashed and millions of Americans lost their jobs. As a result, the razzle-dazzle of the flappers evaporated, as dressing so smartly when people could not even put food on the table was highly inappropriate. Instead, fitted garments and dresses came in, along with humbler looks in general.
America In Crisis The Humble Trends Of The 30s
Dolores Del Rio – The Grand Beauty Of Classic Hollywood
But America would pull itself out of the economic hole in time, and Hollywood, in particular, would revive that classic glamour. There was one actress in, called Dolores del Rio, who would stun audiences with her appearance. The first female major Latin American crossover star in Hollywood, she had a body that was 'curvaceous and inviting', as put by the magazine Photoplay, and was known for her elegance as well as her beauty. During the 1930s, Del Rio became one of the prototypes of female beauty (not to mention many other special aspects of this unique woman), influencing Hollywood in her style.
Dolores Del Rio The Grand Beauty Of Classic Hollywood
The Patriotic Glamor Of The 40s
Just a decade later, America had entered World War II against Germany and Japan and the nation was once again going through a total transition, its fashion included. People were now interested in women with lengthy limbs and wide shoulders. You might remember the cone-shaped bras, called “bullet” or “torpedo” bras. With women having to take the places of men leaving the factories to fight in Europe and the Pacific, an industrial look took over fashion as women became a lot more traditionally masculine.
The Patriotic Glamor Of The 40s
The Pin-Up Wonder Called Betty Grable
Do you recognize the iconic picture? Yes, women were becoming a lot stronger as they left their traditional roles as homemakers and secretaries to put bombs together in factories or decipher codes for national security. But not everyone liked this look, and soldiers, in particular, needed a feminine inspiration to keep them going, namely in the form of Betty Grable. She was, perhaps, the first pin-up girl. Hosiery specialists of the time emphasized Betty's leg proportions as ideal.
The Pin Up Wonder Called Betty Grable
The Birth Of The 50s And The Real Hourglass Shape
If the 40s were all about strength and power, then the 50s returned women to a more traditionally feminine look, reintroducing the hourglass as a standard. Women were now expected to go back to pleasing men by losing the muscles that they gained working in the factories and putting on weight to pad their behinds and breasts. To this extent, fashion magazines would encourage weight gain, something that we might think of as crazy in today’s world! But finally, thin was no longer the ultimate woman again!
The Birth Of The 50s And The Real Hourglass Shape
The Splendid And Captivating Marilyn Monroe (And Her Body)
Perhaps the most easily recognizable and iconic beauty of all time, Marylin Monroe, was the perfect hourglass bombshell and the benchmark for mid-century beauty. It seemed like no woman could hope to top her, and she was almost like a goddess during that time. Indeed, Marylin had it all, her real name Norma Jean. As much as Marylin was adored, she was also envied, and she had a hard time getting along with some ladies. Marilyn was curvy and confident.
The Splendid And Captivating Marilyn Monroe
The Sudden Skinniness Of The 60s
With the turn of the next decade came another revolution in beauty standards. Interestingly, the era of hippies and rebellion, free love, flower power, and of people breaking free of normal society’s standards in general, was also the era where women were now being suddenly urged to begin starving themselves! The super-thin, fairy look was in now, and no one wanted to see curves anymore it seemed. Rather, a narrow waist, lanky limbs, and hidden hips were trending.
The Sudden Skinniness Of The 60s
The Archetypal 60s Girl – “Twiggy” The Slim Queen
You can be assured that only a few women could meet this emaciated look, and there was one woman who seemed thinner and more delicate than the rest – Lesley “Twiggy” Lawson. It was in 1965 that Lesley began modeling, and she quickly rose to stardom thanks to her graceful and slim beauty, with her big blue eyes, at just 16 years old. She would often be seen with top celebrities and icons of the time, such as actors, musicians, and wealthy playboys.
The Archetypal 60s Girl
Get Moving With The 70s Dancing Queens
Ten years drifted by and the Disco Era sprang out of nowhere. Skinniness was out and curves were back in. Are you starting to see the trend here? But unlike the boxier looks of the 50s, people wanted to be light enough to dance the night away while still having things to jiggle, and curves were meant to be flaunted not hidden. It seemed like people could not get enough of discos, with their platform shoes and bellbottom brightly colored pants.
Get Moving With The 70s Dancing Queens
The Angels That Were Charlie's
Along with disco music, there was one other media sensation that dominated America – Charlie’s Angels. This was the sensational trio made up of Jake Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Farrah Fawcett. These three women were the queens of Hollywood and television. It seemed like people cared equally about their action heroine roles as they did about their angelic presence. Or maybe it was the combination of both that made them so magnetic. Here were strong, sexy women making a storm.
The Angels That Where Charlie's
The Models That Became Superhuman In The 80s
With the advent of the 80s came an incredible movement in the fashion industry that transcended anything that had ever come before in that century. The “supermodels” had arisen and were conquering the world! From leading fashion brands’ runways, to MTV music videos, the world was obsessed with these superhumanly gorgeous women. If previous beauty standards had been hard to reach, then these ones seemed impossible, with women like Naomi Campbell walking around!
The Models That Became Superhuman In The 80s
The Towering Rachel Hunter
You might not believe it, but people were a lot shorter even just forty years ago, with Rachel Hunter being extraordinarily tall for her time. At just under six feet, the supermodel towered over men, including her former partner, the iconic artist Rod Stewart. He was only 5’10”, and she leaned over him easily. No wonder he had such big hair! Hunter was a leading fashion icon throughout the 80s and 90s.
The Towering Rachel Hunter
Elle Macpherson Rules The Supermodel Roost
While there were plenty of astonishingly beautiful and elegant women during the 80s, supermodel Elle Macpherson stole a large portion of the world’s attention at the time. She was so gorgeous and in shape that her nickname “The Body” was not ironic in the slightest. She was often seen on the cover of Sports Illustrated, at a total of five record times. Elle is still one of the hottest women in the world, continuing to appear on Sports Illustrated covers to this day.
Elle Macpherson Rules The Supermodel Roost
Get Thinner In The 90s
While the supermodels continued to dominate the 90s, a new trend also arose, and that was being skinny. The ‘waif’ look was hugely popular, and women all around the world began dieting fiercely to keep up with the rakish women that they saw in magazines and movies. Better known as “heroin chic” (*sob*), an almost unhealthy and slightly trashy appearance was assured to make you popular. What a long way the world had come since The Gibson Girls of 1910!
Get Thinner In The 90s
The Edgy Glory Of Winona Ryder
You might not believe it, but actress Winona Ryder was initially told by a casting agent that she was “not pretty enough to be an actress” and that she had to “find something else to do.” This woman undoubtedly ate her words as Winona would soon become one of the most desirable women and actresses in the world. Her messy and effortless beauty created an almost cult-like status for the brunette.
The Edgy Glory Of Winona Ryder
The Athletic Looks Of The New Millennium
The 20th century and first millennium ended and the 2000s had just begun. People were now starting to clean up as the grungy gorgeousness of the 90s was suddenly seen as cringeworthy. Now, there was a sudden health and fitness drive, and athletes were being admired and set as beauty standards. The sportier that you were, the better, and people began appreciating curvaceousness again. Artists like Jennifer Lopez also popularized large backsides once more.
The Athletic Looks Of The New Millennium
The Flawless And Angelic Splendor Of Gisele Bundchen
Brazil is famous for its diversely gorgeous women, but few have (or ever will) reach the status that Gisele Bundchen reached. She was regarded as “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Rolling Stones magazine (2000), a title that millions of people around the world supported. There are few leading fashion and fitness brands that have not worked with her today. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel and a Sports Illustrated frequenter.
The Flawless And Angelic Splendor Of Gisele Bundchen
The 2010s Enlarge Women’s Bottoms Significantly
While curves have come in and out of fashion over the past century, 2010 saw an obsession for large bums that went beyond anything that the Western world had enjoyed before. The “bootylicious” look that was coined by the queen Beyonce herself was being taken very seriously. But women like Nikki Minaj, Kim Kardashian and Cardi B went to extremes to get the largest derriere imaginable, some even by getting implants inserted into their bottoms.
The 2010s Enlarge Womens Bottoms Significantly
Kim Kardashian Takes Over The World With Her Curves
Speaking of Kim Kardashian, there was a time, not long ago, when it seemed like you could not get away from her and her glamorous family’s presence. Kim in particular was a sensational starlet that continually wowed people across the world with her daring outfits and extremely curvy physique. Kim even once “broke the internet” when she published photographs of herself in the nude, balancing a champagne bottle with her extensive bottom.
Kim Kardashian Takes Over The World With Her Curves
Acknowledging The First Booty Queen, Jennifer Lopez
But do not be fooled – before any of these women were glorifying bums, Jennifer Lopez was the original advocate for healthy tushies. This R&B superstar was famous for her beautiful and soulful music, her sensational dancing skills, and her ample rump. She normalized healthy curves in women, who had for so many years been forced to hide or lose their natural body shapes. Well, that concludes our history lesson. We would now like to discuss the countries of the world’s beauty standards!
Acknowledging The First Booty Queen Jennifer Lopez
U.S.A
We begin our world tour with the United States, where the ideal woman comes in the form of a tall, athletic, slim bombshell with angelic blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. There are those that admire brown eyes among the population, but the saying, “blondes have more fun,” is not just a joke. You are guaranteed to be more popular in America if you fit the people’s stereotypical beauty standards, and with the extensive marketing prevalent in America as well as Hollywood's influence, there is a lot of pressure on women to conform to standards of beauty.
USA
China
China has a long history of some of the most stringent and intense beauty standards, and its modern fashion world is no less unforgiving. The thinner that you are in the Asian country, the better, and having light skin is an absolute must. These qualities are still looked for in potential wives for the sons of good families, and these suitors must also possess narrow waists. Many women use face-whitening makeup, as well as creams and other beauty products, in China today.
China
Egypt
Egypt is a wondrous country with an almost magical presence in the world, and the historical country’s women are no less enchanting. Some of these beauties are considered more dazzling than The Sphynx. Dark full hair, with kohl around the naturally almond-shaped eyes, is a long-held image of beauty in Egypt. While Egyptians like their women curvaceous, today, the largely Islamic country, also maintains that women should cover their bodies up and have modest demeanors. It is said that the legendary queen Cleopatra was the inspiration for their body and beauty standards.
Egypt
Switzerland
You probably think of the ideal Swiss woman as being a waifish yet tall milkmaid with blonde hair and blue eyes standing on a breath-taking mountain? Well, that is not far off the truth! Athletic is more common than skinny here, making it also more desired.
Switzerland
Bulgaria
Bulgarians seem to be crazy about phenomenal hourglass figures, with enormous chests and wide hips being adored, along with a narrow waist. Really, it is something of a doll look that women need to achieve here. Brunettes of the darker variety are a common sight in the country, as is paler skin, which is a product of their mostly cold climate.
Bulgaria
The United Kingdom
Englishmen go crazy for slim and well-dressed women. They also do not like their women too tall, but have the ideal height measurement of 5’7” for the perfect tallness. Traditionally preferring large eyes, slender cheekbones and slim noses and collarbones, an 'English Rose' was someone with fair skin and rosy cheeks, though nowadays the large parts of the UK are so multicultural for such a small place, that standards of beauty are extremely varied. With Brexit on the rise, you can be sure that the traditional British beauty standards will be far more popular.
United Kingdom
Philippines
The Filipino beauty standard prescribes small foreheads framed by lengthy dark hair and sharp jaws. They are crazy about petite and slim women that are well-endowed in the chest area. This is a sunny and warm country, but they prefer their women to sit indoors as much as possible, given their worship of pale skin. This ideal contrasts wildly with the majority of the population’s darker skin.
Philippines
France
We return to Europe now with one of the supermodel capitals of the world: France. This country is obsessed with tall and slim women – which is ironic, given how this country has one of the shortest populations in Europe. Frenchmen traditionally are thought to like to see more masculine features in women, as well as those that are humble and sweet-looking. While they insist that women should take care of themselves in this country, they do emphasize natural beauty and prefer it if women do not opt for cosmetic surgery.
France
Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi people encourage their women to put effort into their already-existing natural beauty and qualities. They love lengthy and sleek dark hair, well-moisturized skin and large, dark eyes. Speaking of eyes, they believe that they should be complemented with bold eyebrows. As for physiques, the people in this sunny country love their women as bountiful as a Summer harvest. But the main point of interest for the Bangladeshi is a beautiful and warm face.
Bangladesh
Chile
We continue our love for natural splendor with the South American Chilean people, except that they prefer thin eyebrows to thick ones. Having blonde hair in Chile is a rare novelty, given the darker complexions of the locals, and so many women will dye their hair this color to stand out. Still, the people of Chile are incredibly happy with their average woman and love those that can cook up a storm.
Chile
Italy
Italy, like France, is another place famous for its extravagantly gorgeous women. We all have some exotic idea of what Italian women look like, and like to think of them as fierce and flirty. Like the French, the Italians prefer their women slim and tall. They also like their women to wear plenty of makeup, particularly on their eyelids and lips. You will want to dress up quite a bit if you go out partying or socializing in Italy, it is a place that has a very sleek but also conforming style.
Italy
Nigeria
In Nigeria, they put a lot of importance onto the tone of your skin, with lighter bodies being representative of class and wealth, as is a bit of meat on one's bones. Those who can afford expensive skin-bleaching products will do their best to lighten their appearances. Nigerians are big on superbly curvaceous figures, particularly bottoms. The thicker one is, the healthier that they are perceived, with thinness being associated with poor health and disease.
Nigeria
Romania
Romania might be in Eastern Europe, but the people here have a Western mentality when it comes to beauty standards. This has resulted in a stringent dedication to thinness among the female population, with women going to great lengths to reach their weight goals. This means that the cigarette industry is booming there, and so are fad diets. Another outcome of these stringent beauty standards is that cosmetic surgeons will always be high in demand in Romania.
Romania
Serbia
Moving to a snowier part of Eastern Europe we have Siberia, where thick lips and large, azure eyes are desirable features. As for what makes a body admirable, Siberians love lengthy legs, small frames, and enormous bosoms. They are big on neatness and well-kept nails and hair. Siberia is a large supplier of the world’s models, with a significantly beautiful population. Siberia is a fantastic destination for anyone that does not mind the cold.
Serbia
South Africa
South Africa is a country with a highly diverse population, and so there is no one beauty standard, but many. For the traditional African population, a supremely curvaceous body with thick lips and an innocent appearance is the gold standard. The Indian groups primarily take skin lightness into consideration when judging a woman’s beauty and desirability. The white groups, both Afrikaans and English, prefer their women to be slender but tanned, given the abundance of sunshine in the warm African country.
South Africa
Ukraine
Ukraine was a country that was once crazy about heavier and rounder women, who were seen as a warm and inviting haven from the icy and punishing weather and environment. But that was a long time ago. Nowadays, the opposite is true, as Ukrainians wish for their women to be slender and fit. They are against cosmetic surgery, and prefer that women work with what they were given, rather than get artificial-looking touch ups.
Ukraine
Peru
Peruvians are similar to Chileans in that despite adoring how their local women look, the appearance of a Western-looking woman will be considered a titillating surprise. But there is more to the Western look than just being aesthetically appealing. Those who seem like they would not be out of place in the United States or Europe are also labeled as rich and successful. To avoid tanning too deeply, Peruvian women will go about their business covered up.
Peru
Netherlands
Welcome to the land of the Dutch, where the women are prized even among other Europeans for their stunning appearances. These lovely Netherlands ladies are prized for being incredibly tall, strong, and long-limbed, blond hair and blue-eyed. It seems like Europe prizes this country for being populated with so many naturally gorgeous beauties. With so many women possessing a hereditary attractiveness in this country, you need to own exceptional physical qualities to stand out.
Netherlands
Argentina
This South American wonderland is abundant with fantastical women, many of whom are prized for having the ideal hourglass figure. There is a gorgeously organic attractiveness to Argentinian women that is hard to find in other countries, and they are blessed with soft and glossy skin, not to mention full lips. Argentinian women love to show off their bodies and are big fans of fitted dresses and jeans. Large eyes are also quite common here.
Argentina
Kenya
We now return to Africa for our final entry on this list with the sunny Kenya. The women here are honored for their lengthy and slender necks, wide foreheads, richly toned skin and slim physiques. These Kenyan wonders love to wear dazzling outfits and sparkling makeup. Lastly, a shorter head of hair is considered the ideal look. But the best feature of Kenyan women must be their broad and heartwarming smiles.
Kenya
The Future Of Beauty
So, what have we gathered from this sensational historical and global tour? Namely, that there is no objective beauty standard. How we perceive someone as beautiful is tied up with a complex range of racial and cultural standards. Hopefully, we can all one day learn to appreciate the gorgeousness of every type of person in our wonderful world. As the people of the world become more and more intertwined, so too do our ideas on beauty and attractiveness.
The Future Of Beauty