It's a question we've all asked ourselves at some point, and there's no shame in asking it. But the truth is that "pretty" comes in many shapes and sizes, and your brand of pretty might not match someone else's. That's why we're here to tell you exactly where you fall!
Just answer these 12 quick questions, and we'll gauge your beauty, your aura, and the effect you have on others. To discover how pretty you are, click “Start Quiz” now.
Questions Overview
- They tend to look away, or they act nervous or shy.
- They get super friendly, like we've known each other for years.
- They get super curious and start asking me lots of questions about myself.
- They always want to know where I got a certain outfit or accessory.
- People often say I could be a model.
- Most people say I have a great smile, or that I brighten up a room.
- People usually single out one or two features of mine that they like.
- People usually say they love my fashion choices or makeup.
- I don't really think about it. I think I photograph pretty well without much effort.
- I make sure my hair, outfit, and everything else is just right.
- I make sure they're getting my face's best angle.
- I pull some sort of face to show off my personality.
- Sure, but not a lot. Just enough to get me out the door.
- I wear a lot of makeup. I like to look flawless.
- Not usually, or not a lot. I prefer my natural face.
- I do, and I like to experiment with fun colors and unconventional styles.
- On-point (designer, runway, Fashion Week)
- Extravagant (luxury, jewelry, opulence)
- Alternative (grunge, casual, DIY)
- Playful (bold colors, frills, loads of accessories)
- Something asymmetrical and sleek.
- Perfectly wavy and sculpted. I'm ready for the paparazzi.
- Something casual and not too fussy.
- Definitely something with bangs! Bangs are fun!
- Um, all of them? Why should I have to pick just one?
- My smile, which is brighter than the sun.
- My eyes, which are striking and catch people's attention.
- My hair, which I use to express myself.
- Chic sunglasses that give me an air of mystery.
- A shimmering necklace that catches the light.
- A bold piercing, like a septum or tongue piercing.
- A chunky bracelet that rattles when I move.
- I was born ready and my whole life is a runway. So yes.
- A runway? Honey, put me on the red carpet!
- The runway just isn't ready for my avant-garde style, sadly.
- Runways are too stuffy! I prefer to show off my style in public.
- Now that you mention it—constantly! It’s super weird.
- I notice people staring at me sometimes, but not all the time.
- I feel like I don’t notice people staring that often, but when they do, they stare super hard at me.
- Not very often, I don’t think!
- Someone serious but realistic. I see things for what they really are, even when others don't.
- Someone confident and self-assured. I know who I am and what I want.
- Someone creative and passionate. I keep going, even if I'm misunderstood.
- Someone friendly and approachable. I like to make people smile.
- Someone intimidating but real. People value my opinion.
- Someone to be admired and respected. People flock to me.
- Someone who blazes their own trail. I tend to stray from the crowd.
- Someone who you can trust. People confide in me.
More Quizzes
What does "pretty" mean, anyway?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what one person might turn up their nose at, the next person might see with stars in their eyes. There's no one single way to be pretty, and the truth is that everyone's got their own brand of beautiful. That said, there is such a thing as beauty standards, unfortunately, and sometimes those standards get into our heads.
Beauty Standards Around the World
It may seem surprising, but what we think of as "beautiful" changes by culture! For example, in the United States, beauty standards for women tend to favor hourglass figures, pale skin, and pearly teeth. But in certain regions of Ethiopia, people find beauty in stretching their lips, or seeing who can gain the most weight. That's all to say that there's no single, ideal standard for perfection, and most standards are actually exclusionary and harmful. People are beautifully diverse, and so are their senses of beauty!
What influences beauty standards?
Beauty standards aren't formed in a vacuum, and by that we mean that just because something is "standard" doesn't mean it's some universal truth that can never change. For example, we find many things desirable because we're told to find them desirable through advertising or media. We see perfectly sculpted celebrities in movies and think we have to be like that, too, since other people seem to enjoy that. But those celebrities are only like that because Hollywood thinks we enjoy that. And that's not to mention gender dynamics! Many women's beauty standards are based on how men think women should look, but what if one day we all woke up and decided to only tailor our appearances to what we personally enjoy, rather than what we think other people want us to look like?
How can I embrace my own beauty?
First, try to understand that you're beautiful simply for existing, and we're not trying to be total cornballs here. The chances of existing at all are so slim that it's wild that any of us are here at all!
But beyond that, here's a little exercise: Take a good long look in the mirror, and try to pinpoint the feature on your body that most stands out. What feature do you find yourself thinking about the most? However you feel about it, the truth is that that feature is probably a defining part of what makes you, you! Other people see it and go, "Oh, that's my friend/family/classmate/coworker! I'd know them anywhere!" That's beautiful! How tragic would it be if you looked like anything else, and the people you love didn't recognize you?
All that said, we like to think of "beauty" kind of like how we think of a signature. Your looks are what make you the person you are, no matter what other people might think of them. And it's your individual identity that's beautiful, so embrace it!
Want to learn more?
For more information about beauty standards and where they come from, check out these resources:
Reader Success Stories
-
"The results were pretty accurate to what others tell me."
