The mainstream definition of what an ideal man should look like varies from country to country. Just like women, a lot of men try to follow common beauty trends in order to be seen as more attractive. The cultural difference in what exactly people consider objectively beautiful might come as a surprise.
Bright Side did a fun bit of research about what people consider to be the ideal male beauty standard in many countries around the world. Looking at the most beloved male celebs will tell you about what is considered attractive.
1. United States and Canada
According to People’s magazine, the most attractive men in the US for the past 3 years are Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther), and singer John Legend.
The usual definition of beauty, when it comes to men in the United States and Canada, is having a muscular physique, ruggedness, and golden skin. However, in the past couple of years, especially among the younger generation, an androgynous look has become more desirable.
2. India
According to the poll, the most attractive men in India are actors Shah Rukh Khan (Don 2), Aamir Khan (Like Stars on Earth), and Hrithik Roshan (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara). Even though Shah Rukh Khan took first place, he actually opened up, saying that he has been called “ugly and unconventional” in the past.
The main beauty standard in India is having a lighter skin tone, which gets promoted a lot on TV. Other than that, Indian standards are pretty close to American: tall, muscular man, who have clear skin and a full head of hair.
3. United Kingdom
According to a 2021 poll, the most attractive man in the UK is Tom Hardy (Inception), and 2022 research suggests that Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) has a huge shot of winning that title.
The research data says that the ideal type of man for British people has an athletic build, brown eyes, short dark-brown hair, and some facial hair. In fact, men with beards are found to be over 60% more attractive than men without them.
4. Philippines
The most attractive men in the Philippines have been noted as Josh Cullen Santos from the boy group SB19 and the actor Alden Richards (Imagine You & Me).
The beauty standard in the Philippines has shifted and instead of looking macho, the men care about their appearance a lot and go for a more beautiful look, so they go to salons to get facials. Other standards include having dark hair, being at least 5’9“, and having a more “mestizo” look, which means being mixed with white.
5. South Korea
While western countries prefer men who are athletically built, South Korea likes more of a skinny, androgynous-looking body (not too skinny, fat, or muscular) for men. Men need to be a little bit soft, with slim facial features, double eyelids, and lighter skin.
Male celebrities in South Korea also do not shy away from using makeup or dyeing their hair, actors dye it black to look more youthful while idols dye it “fun” colors, and it is not considered to be revolutionary like it would be in the US.
6. Mexico
Mexicans go for a more “macho” look, which means being extremely masculine, as opposed to South Korea which prefers a more androgynous look. The list of the most attractive men includes actors Diego Boneta (Luis Miguel) and Ryan Guzman (9-1-1) in the first 2 spots.
7. Germany
According to research, German women prefer their men to be taller, with either black or brown short hair. The largest percent of the respondents said that they would like their man to be muscular, but skinny men took a close second place.
Football player Marco Reus and the actor Thore Schölermann have been named the most attractive men.
8. Italy
In Italy, men being overly masculine does not have much importance in terms of their attractiveness. In fact, a lot of men are into grooming and styling their body hair, and Italian men do not shy away from wearing “girlish” colors, like pink or purple.
The most attractive male celebrities are considered to be Raoul Bova and Giulio Berruti.
9. Australia
Australian male beauty standards are focused on physical size and being muscular. While women perceive their bodies as heavier than ideal, men who follow beauty standards, on the contrary, think they are too skinny. The Hemsworth brothers are considered one of the ideals of Australian beauty.
10. The Netherlands
The Netherlands is considered to be a country that has the tallest people in the world, with the average height of a woman being 5’7″ (around 170 cm), and 6’0″ (around 183 cm) for men. Dutch women seek a male partner that is taller than them.
TV presenter Arie Boomsma and actor Michiel Huisman have been named 2 of the most attractive Dutch men, and their heights match up the beauty standard: Boomsma is 6’5 (around 198 cm), while Peelen is 6’1 (around 185 cm). Notably, both men are also muscular and have facial hair.
Which country’s standards align with your own? Do you think standards are hurtful for people’s self-esteem?
I Was About to Marry the Love of My Life – But When I Lifted the Bride’s Veil, I Called Off the Wedding
Matt stood at the altar, ready to begin the rest of his life with the woman he loved. The church was full and the priest nodded for him to lift the veil to kiss the bride. But the moment Matt lifted the delicate lace, he FROZE IN DISBELIEF and CALLED OFF THE WEDDING.
I met Sophia in the kind of way that feels too good to be real. A library. I know, it sounds like a Hallmark movie setup, right? I was looking for a book on philosophy I’d been dying to read, and just as I spotted it, another hand reached out at the same time. Hers.
She laughed before I could say a word. “Go ahead. You look like you actually plan on reading it.”
“How can you tell?” I asked, unable to hide my smile.
A man smiling in a library | Source: Midjourney
“The way your eyes lit up when you saw it,” she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Most people just pretend to like philosophy to sound smart.”
That was all it took. A spark. We started talking — about books, life, and the kind of things you talk about when you’re not trying too hard. I didn’t even notice when the library closed. All I knew was I didn’t want the conversation to end.
“I can’t believe we’ve been talking for three hours,” she said, checking her watch. “Time flies when you’re debating philosophy with a stranger.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t be strangers anymore,” I suggested. “I’m Matt.”
“Sophia!” she replied, her smile making my heart skip a beat. “And I’d love to continue this discussion over coffee sometime.”
A delighted woman in a library | Source: Midjourney
From there, things moved fast, but they always felt right. Sophia was the kind of person who made the world feel lighter. She was smart, kind, and beautiful in this effortless way, like she wasn’t even trying to be. Within a year, I was down on one knee, holding out the ring I knew would look perfect on her hand.
“Sophia,” I said, my voice trembling, “you make every day feel like that first moment in the library. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Yes, Matt! A thousand times yes!”
And that’s how our journey began. But there was one complication: her sister, Emily.
Grayscale shot of man proposing to his girlfriend | Source: Unsplash
Emily was… different. Looking at her was like seeing Sophia’s reflection in a slightly warped mirror. They shared the same delicate features, the same honey-blonde hair, and the same bright eyes. Most people assumed they were twins, and the sisters would often joke about it.
But while they may have looked alike on the outside, Emily had this intense energy about her, like she was always a second away from doing something unpredictable.
“You know,” people would often say, “if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you two were identical twins.”
Sophia would laugh it off, but Emily would always get this strange look in her eyes, like she was filing away that information for later. She had always been… obsessed with me. At first, I thought it was harmless — a little extra attention here and there, playful teasing when Sophia wasn’t around.
But over time, it became unsettling.
A woman flirtatiously smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney
When Sophia wasn’t looking, Emily would linger too long, touch my arm unnecessarily, or make comments that felt more personal than a sister-in-law-to-be should.
“You know, Matt,” Emily would say, her fingers lingering on my shoulder, “Sophia’s so lucky to have found you. I’ve always wanted someone just like you. We even look so much alike… doesn’t that feel like fate?”
“Emily, please,” I’d say, stepping away uncomfortably. “I love your sister.”
“Love is such a complicated thing, isn’t it?” she’d reply with that unsettling smile. “Sometimes we think we know what we want, but we’re wrong. And sometimes what we want is right in front of us, wearing a different face.”
It was unnerving, but I convinced myself it wasn’t worth making a big deal over.
A frustrated man | Source: Midjourney
When I brought it up to Sophia, she just brushed it off. “That’s just Emily being Emily,” she’d say with a laugh, as if her sister’s behavior was some running joke I wasn’t in on.
“I don’t know, Sophia,” I’d press. “Something feels off about the way she acts around me.”
“Matt, honey, she’s had a rough time lately. She’s just trying to find her place in the world. Please, for me, try to understand?”
I let it go, not wanting to create unnecessary drama. After all, we were planning a wedding, and I wanted everything to be perfect.
But looking back, I should’ve trusted my gut.
A church decorated for a wedding | Source: Pexels
The wedding day arrived like a dream. The church was packed, every pew filled with family and friends. The hum of anticipation filled the air, and I stood at the altar, palms sweating, my heart pounding in my chest.
Dave, my best man, nudged me with a grin. “You good, man? You look like you might pass out.”
I chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I’m good. Just… ready to see her, you know?”
“I’ve never seen you this nervous,” Dave whispered. “Not even when you were practicing your proposal speech for three weeks straight.”
“This is different,” I replied, adjusting my tie for the hundredth time. “This is forever.”
“And it’s perfect,” Dave assured me. “You and Sophia? You’re meant to be.”
And then, the organ began to play.
An excited groom in the churh | Source: Midjourney
The heavy oak doors at the back of the church creaked open, and there she was. My bride. Sophia. She looked radiant in her white gown, her face hidden beneath a delicate lace veil. For a moment, it felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.
Step by step, she made her way down the aisle, her father guiding her arm. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, but something felt… strange. Her movements were stiff and her posture rigid. She wasn’t looking at me, not the way she always did.
I told myself it was nerves. We were both nervous — it was a big day, after all.
The ceremony began, the priest’s voice a blur as he led us through the vows. When the moment came to lift her veil, my hands trembled. This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for. But when I lifted the veil, my heart STOPPED.
It wasn’t Sophia. It was… EMILY.
A cheerful woman in a bridal attire | Source: Midjourney
“EMILY? What are you doing here?” I gasped.
How had I not realized sooner? The similar height, the same build, the matching honey-blonde hair — it had made her cruel deception possible.
The gasp that erupted from the crowd sounded distant, like it was coming from underwater. My chest tightened, and I took a step back, staring at her in disbelief.
“What the hell is this?” I gasped. “Where is Sophia?”
Emily smiled this small, smug smile that made my stomach turn. “Sophia’s not coming,” she said softly, like she was breaking the news gently.
A startled groom | Source: Midjourney
“What are you talking about? Where is she?”
Emily took a step closer, her eyes locked on mine. “She doesn’t love you, Matt. She was never going to show up today. But I’m here. I’ve always been here.”
“This isn’t happening,” I muttered, running my hands through my hair. “This can’t be happening.”
“But it is happening!” Emily whispered, reaching for my hand. “This is fate, Matt. You and me. It’s always been you and me.”
I stared at her, trying to make sense of the words coming out of her mouth. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not. She doesn’t want this. She doesn’t want you. But I do. I’ve loved you since the day I met you. And I know you love me too, even if you won’t admit it.”
A furious bride | Source: Midjourney
“Stop it!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the church. “Where is my fiancée? What have you done with Sophia?”
“She’s exactly where she’s meant to be! She doesn’t want to see you, let alone marry you!”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands clenched at my sides, my head spinning. I tried calling Sophia but her number was disconnected.
“You’re insane. This wedding is over!” I hissed at Emily.
“Matt, please,” she begged, grabbing my arm. “Everything I did, I did for us. Can’t you see that?”
I yanked my arm away. “There is no us, Emily. There never was, and there never will be.”
I turned to the crowd, my voice louder now. “Thank you all for coming. But there will be no wedding today.”
A disheartened groom | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll regret this!” Emily screamed as I walked away. “She’ll never love you like I do!”
And with that, I walked out, leaving the chaos behind me.
I couldn’t sleep that night. The moment kept looping in my head, over and over, refusing to let me rest. How could Emily possibly think this would work? And where the hell was Sophia? I tried calling her again, but every time, it went straight to voicemail.
The next morning, my phone rang. I almost didn’t answer — it could’ve been anyone calling to ask what happened. But something told me to pick up.
“Matt?”
My heart stopped. “Sophia?”
A shocked man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
Her voice was shaky and desperate. “I’m so sorry. I’m calling from my dad’s phone. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Where were you?” I demanded, my anger and relief mixing into something I couldn’t describe.
She broke down, sobbing. “Emily locked me in the attic.”
“What?” I froze, gripping the phone tighter. “What are you talking about?”
“She told me she had a surprise for me,” Sophia said through her tears. “She said she wanted to give me something before we left for the wedding. When I went into the attic, she shoved me in and locked the door after grabbing my phone. I screamed, Matt. I screamed so much, but no one could hear me.”
A helpless bride trapped in an attic | Source: Midjourney
“Oh God, Sophia,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “I should have known something was wrong. I should have protected you.”
“I was so scared,” she whispered. “Not just for me, but for you. I knew what she was capable of, but I never thought… I never imagined she’d go this far.”
I sat down, my head in my hands. “She locked you in the attic to… to take your place?”
Sophia’s silence said everything.
“I kept banging on the door,” she finally continued, her voice breaking. “I kept calling for help until my voice gave out. And the whole time, I could hear the wedding music playing below. I could hear everything, Matt. Everything. I fainted from exhaustion. My dad found me hours later and told me the wedding was off.”
“I’m coming over,” I said, grabbing my keys. “Right now.”
An anxious woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Matt,” she called out before I could hang up. “I love you. I need you to know that.”
“I love you too. More than anything.”
When I got to her house, Sophia ran into my arms, her face pale and tear-streaked. I held her tightly, my emotions threatening to spill over.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“Look at me,” I said, gently lifting her chin. “None of this is your fault. Emily… she needs help.”
“I should have seen it coming,” Sophia said, trembling. “All those times, the way she’d look at you, the things she’d say when we weren’t around. I thought if I just loved her enough, supported her enough…”
“This isn’t your fault,” I said. “Emily’s sick. She needs help, but that doesn’t mean we let this slide.”
A disheartened man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
“What are we going to do?” Sophia asked, her eyes meeting mine.
“We’re going to do what’s right,” I replied, taking her hand. “For everyone’s sake.”
We pressed charges against Emily. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one. Her actions weren’t just a harmless prank — they were dangerous and calculated. She needed to face the consequences.
“I never wanted it to come to this,” Sophia sobbed as we left the police station. “She’s my sister, Matt. My little sister.”
“I know, love,” I said, holding her close. “But sometimes loving someone means making the hard choices. She needs help, and this is the only way to make sure she gets it.”
A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney
Emily’s betrayal left scars, but it didn’t destroy us. Sophia and I took time to heal, to rebuild the trust and love that had been tested so deeply. And when we were ready, we planned a new wedding — smaller, quieter, but filled with the people who truly supported us.
This time, when Sophia walked down the aisle, there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind. When I lifted her veil and saw her radiant smile, I knew we had weathered the storm together, and we were stronger for it.
“I do,” she said, her voice strong and clear, without any trace of fear or doubt.
“I do,” I replied, meaning it more than ever before.
And as we sealed our vows with a kiss, I realized that true love isn’t just about the perfect moments… it’s about surviving the imperfect ones together.
A bride and groom kissing each other | Source: Unsplash
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