Popular culture has tried for decades to define who is considered the most attractive woman at any given time. Magazine rankings, celebrity polls, and social media debates revisit the idea every year, often with different names but similar conversations. This time, instead of naming a single winner, a data-led study looked at recurring patterns across years of rankings to understand what traits are most often linked with modern ideas of attractiveness.

Researchers at PlayersTime analysed nearly a decade of Maxim’s Hot 100 lists, covering entries from 2016 to 2025, with no list published in 2020. Rather than focusing on individuals, the team examined shared characteristics to build a statistical profile of what repeatedly appears in these lists.

Common traits that appear again and again

According to PlayersTime’s analysis, certain physical features showed up far more often than others. The data suggests that the most frequently represented profile includes brown eyes, long brown hair, and a heart-shaped face. Women on the lists were more often described as dark-featured and slim, rather than athletic, with an average height of around 172 cm (5 feet 6 inches).

Tattoos also appeared regularly. Nearly two-thirds of the women analysed had at least one tattoo. In contrast, cosmetic surgery was less common than many might expect. While 44 per cent of those studied had undergone some form of cosmetic procedure, the majority had not.

Age was another strong pattern. Most women featured were in their late twenties, with 29 emerging as the most common age when appearing on the list. Astrology even surfaced as a minor trend, with Libra appearing more frequently than other zodiac signs, followed by Scorpio.

Beyond physical appearance, the data also highlighted lifestyle details. Around 90 per cent of women featured in the lists were in relationships, engaged, or married at the time they appeared. Only a small portion were single. PlayersTime clarified that marital status, age, and appearance details were recorded as they were during the year each woman was listed, based on publicly available information.

Celebrities who come close to the profile

While no one matches the statistical profile perfectly, some celebrities align closely with many of the identified traits. PlayersTime’s analysis suggests that Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber meet roughly 90 per cent of the criteria. Shay Mitchell and Emily Ratajkowski follow closely, with slight differences mainly related to age or zodiac sign rather than physical features.

Others, such as Olivia Culpo and Zendaya, match fewer traits due to specific differences like tattoos or height. Kendall Jenner and Lily Collins align on some features but fall short on several data points, placing them lower in overall similarity.

What the data reflects about beauty standards

Aleksandra Dimitrova, data analyst and author at PlayersTime, explained that the findings point to broader cultural preferences rather than a rigid beauty formula. She noted that darker, classic features, including brown hair and deep-set eyes, are increasingly prominent in public perception, influenced by celebrities who combine these traits with confidence and cultural impact.

PlayersTime also applied the same method to People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive lists from 2017 to 2025. The resulting male profile leaned towards brown hair and eyes, an athletic build, facial hair, a height above 183 cm, and tattoos. This year’s winner, Jonathan Bailey, reportedly aligns closely with that composite.