Beauty Blvd.

For the March twentieth-anniversary issue, on stands February 22, Allure conducted a beauty survey of 2,000 women and men, taking the pulse of the average American to see how beauty perceptions and preferences have changed over the past two decades. It examines the face of American beauty and what we as a culture find attractive. The results indicate a shift in the features we find beautiful and shows that cultural desires have changed—perhaps forever.

Allure first conducted a beauty survey in 1991, when Christie Brinkley was considered to have the ideal, all-American look with her blonde hair, blue eyes, slim figure, and soft features. The new survey shows that Angelina Jolie’s dark hair, pronounced features and curvy body has replaced Brinkley as the beauty idol of today’s women.

Beauty Preferences

· 64% think women of mixed race represent the epitome of beauty.

· 70% of those who wish to change their skin color wanted it to be darker— this was pronounced among women.

· 74% of those surveyed believe that a curvier body type is more appealing now than it has been over the past ten years.

· 69% of survey respondents believe there is no such thing as an “all-American look.”

· 85% of those surveyed believe that increased diversity in this country has changed what people consider beautiful.