The Beauty Survey

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so with this thought in mind I interviewed a few people—male and female, younger and older, and from different backgrounds—to find out what they felt made a person attractive.

Here are some of their answers:

What I find most attractive in a woman is when she isn’t overly concerned about what others think of her, when she just acts naturally.—Raymund (29)

One way that I judge whether or not a woman is beautiful is if she’s smiling and her eyes are happy. If so, then she’s beautiful to me, even if she isn’t what most people would call glamorous or especially good looking.—Tim (20)

If somebody has a kind and concerned spirit, they’re beautiful no matter what their physical features may be.—Melody (21)

My personal definition of a beautiful woman has changed over the years. It has gone from a ravishing young blonde, to a mature, personable woman who is a good conversationalist and has a good sense of humor, to one who is happy to sit with me and watch TV.—Steve (70)

Good looks are part of it, but if a girl is charming, funny, and easy to relate to, then she’s beautiful. Or if she’s humorous, ready to do things unexpectedly, adventurous, passionate, and caring, then she’s attractive to me.—James (17)

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, and that’s true. The first time I met my husband, it was his eyes that attracted me. He had beautiful eyes that reached deep into my soul.—Joyce (46)

A woman’s voice is often the first indication of whether or not I will find her attractive.—Jimmy (38)

Kindness, gentleness, positiveness, conviction, and a sense of humor are some of the qualities that make a person beautiful.—Armina (27)

What makes a woman beautiful to me is her spirit—the way she reacts to people and situations around her.—Nathan (24)

My survey was simple as surveys go, but the consensus was clear: Those polled said that real beauty runs deeper than physical attributes, clothing, or cosmetics; it comes from the inside out. I agree, and it seems that’s how God looks at it too. “Man looks at the outward appearance,” the Bible tells us, “but the Lord looks at the heart.”

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1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Proverbs 31:10 ESV / An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

Isaiah 52:7 ESV / How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”