The Enchanting Lands Hosting The Most Beautiful Women On Earth
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that's especially true on a global scale. Not only do standards of beauty change significantly over time, but they also vary significantly from region to region. Bodies and their parts can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and everyone has their own preferences for what they want to see.
That said, some countries nonetheless develop a reputation for being home to a disproportionate number of stunningly beautiful women. Again, which nation wins out in this respect is in the eye of the beholder, but there are a lot of beholders out there who agree that they belong in the conversation.
Brazil
A hot bed for models that the world can't look away from, Brazil is internationally renowned for shapely, vivacious women with seemingly immaculate facial features. And based on the cosmetic techniques that originated from there, it seems Brazil has beauty down to a science.
Although Brazilian waxes are certainly popular, more recent years have seen the more infamous Brazilian butt lift explode in popularity throughout the world. But while that procedure is reputedly dangerous, it demonstrates how far people elsewhere will go to achieve a look that comes naturally in Brazil.
Sweden
For so many people in the world, there's nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a head of blonde hair. And while it's a common sight in many nations, it's practically a part of Sweden's national identity. At least, that's the common perception among other nations.
The women that people often picture when they think of Sweden aren't just blonde but also reputedly tall and physically statuesque. While there are so many gorgeous women in Sweden who are more petite and with darker hair, Anita Ekberg and Malin Åkerman more closely characterize how people tend to characterize women in this Scandinavian nation.
Italy
Although there are many countries known for their beautiful women, the reputation of Italian women isn't just based on their physical appearance but their attitudes. That said, their reputations for olive skin, voluminous lips, and curvy bodies are considered eye-catching on their own.
But those who visit Italy will not just find an abundance of lovely women, but women who wear that loveliness with a confident poise that comes naturally to them. At once cool, fiery, and sensuous, the inner beauty of Italian women can be just as intimidating as their outward attractiveness.
The Phillippines
If the Phillippines stands out internationally as a nation known for its beautiful women, that's due to a reputation that the nation has worked hard to uphold. It's not just that there are many lovely women there, but that there's a cottage industry there around optimizing that loveliness as much as possible.
According to The National News, the Phillippines is famous for its strong showings in international beauty pageants and hosts a wide variety of boot camps that essentially teach how to win them. From their posture to their confidence in public speaking, graduates of these schools transform their physical assets into magnetic presences for all the world to adore.
Jamaica
Although the Caribbean region at large has no shortage of beautiful women, something about Jamaica seems to stand out in this area. Shapely and athletic, the women in Jamaica who turn the world's heads combine their firm curves with soft facial features.
And the beauty of Jamaican women has been internationally recognized time and time again. This is particularly true at the annual Miss World beauty pageant, where Jamaica has won four times since 1963. That makes it pretty official.
India
While Bollywood's most famous actresses make it clear that India's standards of beauty are just as high as Hollywood's are, it's not just the most famous women in the subcontinent that encompass its most beautiful people. Indeed, spending time in any of the world's Indian communities will expose one to high proportion of gorgeous ladies.
To explain why so many Indian women leave people weak in the knees wouldn't be any easier than explaining how any country earns that kind of reputation, but one common feature that makes them attractive are their large, expressive eyes. The full lips and shapely bodies of many Indian women are major factors as well, but it's easy to get lost in those eyes.
The United States
Ever since the Beach Boys released "California Girls" in 1965, people have been extolling the beauty of American women region by region. While the song obviously puts California women on the highest pedestal throughout the United States, it also has a lot to say about women throughout the nation.
And that's because there are different ways to characterize the beauty of various American women. While the beaches of California and Florida show how hard many of them work on their physical attractiveness, there's also something to be said for the lyrical lilt of a southern belle's voice or the brash confidence of a woman from Boston, New York, or New Jersey. And those are just a few examples.
Venezuela
Although gorgeous women aren't exactly difficult to find throughout South America at large, Venezuela is a famous hotspot for them. It's not exactly clear how it's come to happen over the years, but Venezuela has long fought to earn recognition as a nation featuring some of the world's most beautiful women.
According to The Guardian, that beauty doesn't have to be strictly natural as Venezuela leads the world in cosmetic product consumption, and cosmetic surgeries are commonplace there. Nonetheless, the nation's obsession with beauty has yielded the desired international results, as Venezuela earned six Miss Universe titles, five Miss World titles, and six Miss International titles by 2011.
Iran
Although the Iranian Revolution of 1979 introduced a set of laws and social codes that still make it difficult and dangerous for Iranian women to express their beauty fully, that doesn't make them any less beautiful.
With their sharp facial features and bright eyes, Iranian women stand out even when the nation's modesty standards make it hard to show their bodies. And that reputation for beauty has persisted throughout the Middle East even after society in the nation has changed so radically.
Ukraine
Although they haven't had much reason to show off their bright smiles in recent years, the class and gentle beauty of Ukrainian women should not be underestimated. Their faces are often rounder and more traditionally "cuter" than the intimidating sharpness of facial features found elsewhere, but that appears to have served them well among other Europeans.
According to The Daily Mail, Travelers Digest spoke highly of the attractiveness of Ukrainian women, noting that Kyiv tops everywhere else as being home to the world's most beautiful women. Not only did the travel magazine rave that the women there seemed too beautiful to exist, but it also spoke highly of them as educated and enriching conversationalists.
Colombia
It's easy to consider a nation's women beautiful when the world only sees their most prominent and famous people, but Colombia's women demonstrate such unassailable beauty that it shines through even among society's outcasts. And that's abundantly clear in one prison's annual contest.
According to Reuters, Bogota's El Buen Pastor women's prison holds an annual contest called "Miss Sympathy." Contestants like the ones pictured here represent their cell block until the judges decide the loveliest and most graceful among the prison's inmates. Without that context, this would seem like just another beauty pageant with lovely hopefuls.
Australia
From Hollywood hunks like Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman to the lascivious fun of INXS, Australia has long made its mark in popular culture as a source of burly, attractive men. However, the smallest continent is no slouch when it comes to hosting beautiful women, either.
As seen with famously gorgeous examples like Margot Robbie, Isla Fisher, Naomi Watts, and Cate Blanchett, Australian women are known for their striking natural beauty and their confident, humorous charm. What else could anyone expect from a nation that's surrounded by beaches and big on surfing?
Turkey
Known for their piercing eyes and exquisite high cheekbones, beauty often comes naturally to the women of Turkey. But while there can be rustic, down-home quality to the beauty found elsewhere in the world, the photogenic qualities of Turkish women are usually manifested in elegant ways.
Although social norms can require traditional modesty in various parts of Turkey, it nonetheless remains a very fashion-forward nation. So even more conservative styles can find a way to stand out and accentuate a woman's striking features.
France
France has always been considered a daring and risqué provocateur in the world of fashion, but that's only part of the reason while French women have such a sterling international reputation for beauty. They're often known for soft, rounded features that radiate cuteness but often maintain a sensuous attitude that gives their sweet faces a different context.
That's because French women often have a matter-of-fact yet playful and confident approach to intimacy that is only enhanced by their accents. And with the best in elegant and provocative fashions to drive their beauty further at their disposal, French women remain fierce competitors in the world of beauty.
Greece
Although every nation has its own beauty standards, Greece is one of the few to have recorded philosophical texts shaping and challenging those standards that date back thousands of years. But while beauty ideals can change a lot in that time, some of the classically prized features apply to many Greek women today.
Although it's not exactly a requirement nowadays, many Greek women are known for the wavy quality of their hair when they let it grow. The shapely bodies one might see there were also beloved in an ancient times, as are their soft and often symmetrical faces.
Russia
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the world of fashion has welcomed Russian models among some of its most high-profile stars, and it's not hard to see why. There is a clear cuteness about Russia's young, beautiful faces, but that doesn't mean they're always so demure.
Russia can be a hard place to live in, and the demeanor of many of its women reflects this. Although Russian women can often be petite with round, cute faces, many can prove that they're as tough as nails when they need to be.
Spain
The beauty of each nation's women comes down to taste, but the look of Spanish women is particularly distinct, which makes their beauty unique and prized among admirers. Their olive skin and the commonality of pronounced, aquiline noses there give them a look of exotic elegance.
But only so much of attractiveness boils down to what the eye sees. Another aspect that people reportedly love about Spanish women is the blend of traditional shyness and modern sensuality that travelers notice when they meet people there.
Japan
Although there are certainly no shortage of people in this world who fixate on Japanese women to an unhealthy degree, those with a more worldly perspective on the international beauty of women can nonetheless find much to appreciate there. The round symmetry of many Japanese women's faces can often make them appear doll-like, which has had a significant influence on the nation's fashion industry.
Despite the strict social norms that can often make Japan seem like a reserved, overly polite nation, its fashions can be some of the most colorful and over-the-top. And whether they're serving serious elegance or cutesy fun, many Japanese women have a knack for making that contradiction between modern and traditional aesthetic values look good.
Argentina
According to The Guardian, visitors to Buenos Aires will often remark that one of the first things they notice about the Argentine capital is how beautiful most of the women around them are. But if the beauty of the locals seems intimidating, that's because that's even more true of the nation's beauty standards.
A common boast within Argentina is that the nation features some of the world's most beautiful women and that's a standard its citizens work hard to maintain. Even as early as 2006, Argentina was a leading nation for cosmetic procedures, with only Brazil beating it out in terms of proportion to each nation's overall population.
Canada
Like with the United States, Canada's place in the international standings for the beauty of its women has long been based on its diversity. People from all over the world have found a home in Canada, and they've brought all the world's beauty with them.
But while any major city in the vast nation has its share of beautiful women, Montreal enjoys a reputation of hosting the most of them in the country. This is partially because it's known to be a free-spirited and racy place, which makes it a place where attractive personalities flourish as much as attractive faces and bodies.
South Korea
In recent years, South Korea has emerged as a major player in the beauty industry. According to Boston public radio broadcaster WBUR, the nation has become the third largest cosmetics exporter in the world, and the nation's products are intended to achieve its society's common beauty standards.
As NPR correspondent Elise Hu described this standard, "The long luxurious hair, it's the porcelain white skin. It's big, bright eyes. And then a feminine jawline, which, in Korea, is called the V-line." The various women who make up the nation's K-pop groups fit this standard carefully, making it a more influential standard throughout the world as the genre of music gains global popularity.
Ireland
While it's true that many people prefer blondes, there are just many who go absolutely wild for red hair. And while it's true that many lovely Irish women don't have red hair, a significant number of them show the lush vibrance of their coiffure in this natural shade.
Of course, the loveliness of Irish women's faces and bodies is as highly reputed as the aesthetics of the hair, but there's something just as attractive about how they often carry themselves. There's a lyrical flow to their voices and a truly compassionate warmth that radiates from many of them, but it's also accented by a rugged, unpretentious toughness that's also refreshing.
Lebanon
Lebanese women are often considered some of the most beautiful in the Middle East, which makes them strong contenders in that department on the global stage as well. While the olive complexions of many Lebanese women make them eye-catching beyond the region, they're particularly known for their fine, chiseled features within it.
Lebanese women also have a vivacious and romantic reputation, which suggests that their prized beauty isn't merely physical. It's hard to explain beauty at the best of times, but Lebanon's reputation suggests that effort isn't necessary and in a place with its proportion of evidently beautiful people.
Ethiopia
Although every country in the world can point to some outside influence in its culture, there are nonetheless some nations with strong traditional identities. Ethiopia is one of them, which means that the nation's beauty standards developed without a great deal of western influence.
This means that long noses and full lips were prized here before the rest of the world caught on to valuing them and that the curves of Ethiopian women were embraced there before other nations came around to them. This emphasis on unique, natural beauty has blossomed into Ethiopia's modern reputation as a home to some of Africa's most gorgeous women.
The United Kingdom
Despite how popular tanning is in the United Kingdom, the British approach to beauty is typically seen as more pale and waifish than it is in the rest of the world. This perception has changed as Britain has become more diverse, but it's held true when some of the nation's most popular female celebrities are considered.
For instance, that characterization applies to fashion models like Cara Delevigne and Kate Moss as well as actresses like Keira Knightley and Emma Watson. Although the British can get as raucous as anyone else, their charm is typically characterized as shy, adorable awkwardness, which fits that common aesthetic well.
Denmark
As is commonly perceived about nearby Scandinavian nations, the women of Denmark have a reputation for golden hair and statuesque builds. Although they don't average out to be as tall as some of their neighbors, Danish celebrities like Brigitte Nielsen have nonetheless planted that perception in other people's heads.
Still, Danish women are often seen with fair skin, piercing blue eyes and athletic builds. Those features have given the nation a reputation for hosting attractive, statuesque women that has spanned decades and persisted no matter how beauty standards change over time.
South Africa
While some nations are more likely to feature women with sharp, chiseled features and others are more likely to show women with round faces and button noses, both of these structures are common sights in South Africa. This makes the African nation a diverse place, but also one with specific beauty standards.
These emphasize creative hairstyles and curvy bodies, but there's also an appreciation for natural beauty within South African culture. Although it would be misleading to say people don't wear makeup or undergo cosmetic surgeries there, it's less common than in other countries. In other words, the most beautiful women of South Africa were likely born that way.
Mexico
Contrary to the popular perception other countries tend to have of Mexico, it's a diverse place with as wide a range of beautiful women as people are likely to find in the United States or Canada. Nonetheless, there are some common traits among many Mexican women that make them stand out.
They often have long, dark hair and dark eyes, as well as small mouths accented with plump lips. Although some women's eyes are somewhat slanted there, it's also common for Mexican women to have large, expressive eyes similar to a doll's. These traits go well together and can give Mexican women a uniquely beautiful look.
The Netherlands
Although the average woman in The Netherlands is even taller than the average woman in Sweden or Denmark, the nation doesn't typically get tarred with the same aesthetic brush as those ones do. However, that doesn't mean that women in the Netherlands are any less beautiful than those of other northern European nations.
Instead, Dutch women are a little more of a "sleeper hit" due to a cultural norm that emphasizes dressing for comfort instead of fashion. Although the women there have similar facial and bodily features as their Scandinavian counterparts, it's not as typical to flaunt them under revealing or stereotypically feminine clothing.
Poland
A study commissioned by the British swimwear company Pour Moi sought to determine which nationality is considered the most attractive in the world. Since that's impossible to objectively determine, they scoured the internet for data on who is popularly perceived as the most attractive.
What they found was that Poland ranked fourth in the world for having the most attractive women within its borders, having only been beaten out by Japan, Sweden, and India. Unfortunately, Pour Moi wasn't forthcoming about what exactly people liked about Polish women, but beauty is always a little hard to describe.
Afghanistan
Afghan women are often described as having pleasantly round faces, expressive eyes and striking facial features, but the nation's government has indicated that it wants the world to see as little of their beauty as possible. And that's not a gross, pithy way to describe the restored Taliban's edicts barring women from public spaces and most forms of education and employment.
Instead, it's describing a direct attack on the Afghan beauty industry. According to NPR, the Taliban ordered a ban on all beauty salons throughout Afghanistan for no stated reason. And the reasons why this matters aren't purely superficial: These salons were one of the last reliable ways women could support themselves once the Taliban returned to power.
Thailand
Although he's more widely known as a medical tourism consultant, Dr Prem Jagyasi posted a more light-hearted entry on his blog that ranked the countries where one can find the most beautiful women. Although Ukraine and Sweden topped his list, Thailand came in third.
When it came to physical attributes, Jagyasi praised the relatively dark complexions of Thai women, as well as their soft facial features. He also described them as being initially shy but intensely friendly and romantic once they become more comfortable with someone.
Bulgaria
According to the Sofia News Network, Traveler's Digest mentioned the coastal city of Varna as a great place to encounter the nation's loveliest women. Moreover, the travel magazine further argued that Bulgarian women are the fifth most attractive in the world.
Although Traveler's Digest describes them as gorgeous, the description doesn't end there. As the magazine went on to say, "The most striking thing about Bulgarian women is that they are often tall with pale skin, dark hair, and blue or green eyes."
Kenya
It's said that Kenyan women are beautiful regardless of their walks of life, and this photo is a serious indicator of that reality. That's because it was taken at the Miss Kibera modeling contest, which took place in Africa's largest urban slum.
Although slums are always marked by hard circumstances, that hasn't stopped these women from emerging gracefully and assembling outfits that are both traditionally African and lovely to behold. Indeed, Kenyan women are as known for their wit and grace as for their beauty.
Portugal
In Portugal, women are considered beautiful if they are tall and slender with wide hips, but careful grooming means about as much there. If their hair is as stylish as this woman's with similarly light makeup, she's likely to turn heads.
Although Portugal is multicultural enough that women of various skin tones and hair colors can be found, many women there have olive skin and dark hair. Their beauty is often accentuated in simple but effective ways that emphasize nature's gifts.
Pakistan
Although Pakistani women are considered attractive throughout the world, the standards by which beauty is judged vary significantly between those inside the nation and those looking into it. One simple example is that fairer skin is more highly prized within Pakistan, but more tanned tones are preferred outside the country.
Pakistani women are also described as having well-proportioned bodies, plump lips, and high cheekbones. Straight hair is preferred within the nation, but it's also not hard to find people elsewhere who prefer curly hair. As they always say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Hungary
Although there are many places throughout central Europe where the women are famously attractive, Hungary is something of a hidden gem. Although large eyes, full lips, and button noses are as prized there as they are in other places, Hungary is known for a slightly different attitude to beauty.
In particular, Hungarian culture often values natural beauty and prefers a healthy appearance to an overly made-up one. Elegance, grace, and charm are prized there, and there's no makeup or surgery that gives anyone these qualities.
Angola
According to Essence, it took a long time for the world to recognize the beauty of Angolan women, but that change is underway. It seemed to begin in 2020 when Leila Lopes became the first Angolan woman and only the second African woman to win Miss Universe.
U City Guides also reported that more Angolan models like Sharam Diniz have broken into the international fashion world as a result. There's also a rise in modeling agencies scouting talent from beauty pageants in Luanda, the nation's capital.
Norway
Much like elsewhere in Scandinavia, Norway is famously home to women with fairly long blonde hair, angular jawlines, and light blue eyes. Aside from physical characteristics, Norwegian women are known for being strong and independent with adventurous, fun spirits. So they're particularly interesting to those in the know who are looking for some excitement in their lives.
Morocco
Due to Morocco's unique history of colonization from both directions, the women of Morocco vary significantly in looks depending on where people find themselves. Although women throughout the nation are known to have hourglass figures, almond eyes, small noses, full lips, and angular faces, other features are more prominent in certain regions.
For instance, women in northern Morocco tend to have fair skin and lightly colored hair and eyes. That trend shifts to a preponderance of olive-skinned women in central Morocco and more dark-skinned women with hair and eyes to match in the south.
