Revealed: The sexiest woman, according to science

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder – but the sexiest women have dark brown hair, tattoos and are unavailable, according to science.

To explore what characterises attractiveness in 2025, a team analysed ‘Hot 100’ lists compiled by men’s magazine Maxim.

This covered the last decade, from 2016, and involved categorizing attributes including age, height, body type, facial features and hair colour.

They discovered a distinct profile of today’s most attractive woman – dark eyes, long dark hair, and a medium-to-tall height of around 5ft 6 (172cm).

The findings also suggest that women who are in a relationship or married tend to be perceived as more desirable, as do those with tattoos.

Many of today’s celebrity figures – such as Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber – echo this emerging ideal, fitting the profile with a 90 per cent match.

‘What’s striking about 2025’s beauty conversation is how dark, classic features, rich brown hair, deep eyes, and striking silhouettes are increasingly defining public preference,’ Aleksandra Dimitrova, data analyst and author at PlayersTime, said.

‘Trendsetting celebrities are driving this shift, pairing these traits with cultural influence, charisma, and effortless style that make them aspirational figures.’

Of the women who appeared in ‘Hot 100’ lists, 68 per cent were slim, while 14 per cent were athletic, the research revealed.

A third had an hourglass body, while a total of 44 per cent had either body or facial plastic surgery.

Some 64 per cent sported tattoos, the majority had long or medium-length hair, 44 per cent had a heart-shaped face while brown hair and eyes were the most common feature.

Nine in 10 were either in a relationship, engaged or married, while just 12 per cent of women were single.

Finally, in good news for those born between September 23 and October 22, Libra was the most popular star sign.

Other celebrities who are a close fit for the ‘ideal’ include Shay Mitchell, who rose to fame through her role in the hit series Pretty Little Liars.

While she meets the idea height exactly, she is a decade older than the ‘most attractive’ age of 29, the researchers said, making her an 80 per cent match.

Another 80 per cent match is American model Emily Ratajkowski, who made her debut at this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She embodies eight of the 10 defining characteristics, falling short only on age, at five years older than the preferred benchmark, and zodiac sign, as she is a Gemini rather than the favoured Libra or Scorpio.

American actresses Olivia Culpo and Zendaya each score 70 per cent, the researchers said, with the former being marked down for a lack of tattoos and the latter being too tall.

Several other well-known names also reflect parts of the ideal profile. Kendall Jenner – model and one of the most followed women on social media – and Lily Collins, best known for her role in Netflix series Emily in Paris, each score 50 per cent.

Both fall short on height, age, face shape, zodiac sign, and long hair, but make up for it with striking dark features and a slim silhouette, the researchers said.

Their full dataset also reveals how  perceived attractiveness has evolved over the last decade.

In 2016 Maxim featured stars like Margot Robbie and Irina Shayk, in 2017 Emma Watson made the cut, while Sophie Turner featured in 2019.

2023 saw a mix of celebrities, including Beyonce and Taylor Swift, followed by Miley Cyrus in 2024 and Ashley Graham this year.

‘Across the years, Maxim’s selections have formed a strikingly diverse constellation of celebrities, each marked by their own exceptional appeal,’ PlayersTime said in a blog post.

‘Icons such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé have set the standard for mainstream beauty through their style, presence, and the way their curves define attractiveness.

‘Alongside these enduring figures, emerging talents also contribute to the modern ideal, including athletes like Alicia Schmidt and Coco Gauff, as well as actresses such as Jenna Ortega, among a wider circle of influential women.

‘Together, these profiles reflect a cultural shift that continues to shape the beauty standards of our generation, shifting every time a new fan-favourite captures public attention.’

Scientists recently revealed a surprising downside to being too attractive – something they call the ‘beauty backfire’ effect.

According to experts, people can view extremely beautiful people as less relatable – especially women.