Is There A Word For Unattractive Beauty?
This is very difficult to describe but bear with me and don’t take offense. This is meant in the best possible taste and isn’t designed to get your back up. A few years ago when watching Betty Blue a friend pointed out that wasn’t it strange that Beatrice Dalle was good looking but in a recent film she didn’t look particularly attractive. However there was still something about her. This same friend has pointed this out about a colleague. This woman is no stunner (unattractive but not hideous) but there is something very attractive about her. Chemistry, magnetism??? Is there a word for ugly beauty? Or unattractive beauty? If you want to rant at me about inner beauty etc carry on but please think about it and try and relate to someone you know first. Remember saying you find everyone attractive is just nonsense.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:25 am
They have a good personality? I know when there’s rude nasty people I always see them as “ugly” physically too. Even though, once I think about it, they’re really not that ugly. But their ugly personality reflects on physical appearance. I know this is opposite of what you’re talking about, but still, kinda the same thing. Haha.
I don’t really think there’s a term from “them”. But I do get what you’re saying. Make a name up for them! Then tell everyone about it and maybe it will catch on!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
I think you are confusing two words that can be totally independent. Beauty can be recognised without being attractive. The word attractive, by definition means something that attracts. I can give examples of women who are clearly beautiful but whom I am not attracted to. Claudia Schiffer for example.
November 21st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
alluring…charismatic…appealing…att…
November 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Kooky or quirky.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
PERSONALLITY??ANIMAL MAGNETISM.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
There is a French word which covers this, jolie-laide – although I guess unconventional beauty is probably the best way in English (as per earlier poster). I’m not aware of a single English word though.
Totally get where you are coming from – would be interesting to learn if there is an English word for this ……
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 am
It is called sex-appeal
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
Maybe shes tasteful, and she knows how to complement her features…a good personality, charm, those are probably what make these woman ‘beauftiful in their own ways’.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:34 am
butterzsyndrome
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
An Unconventional beauty
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Conventional beauty and what someone finds attractive are two completely different things – hell, if we all liked the same there’d never be enough to go around!
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Comely?
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Haven;t got a clue what to call “them”, but i get where you are coming from. Some women aren’t “hot” but there is an aura about them. So I guess you could call them, Charmers?
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Very often people who are not especially attractive can be the most pleasant it’s something about utilising your assets, lots of charisma and a winning personality. Beauty as they say is in the eye of the beholder, and i truly believe that.
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Charisma
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
With all due respect to so many great answers, finding a single word may be difficult simply because……
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”..!
What attracts or dis-attracts one person to another varies extensively and the reasons are endless for this…
If making reference to a person I may consider un-attractive to my own taste I would refer that person as being very…
………PERSONABLE……
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I think there are a lot of ‘ATTRACTIVE’ people out there who are not beautiful. They have a ‘CHARISMATIC’ personality. What often does it, is they seem to be flirty and they often have very expressive eyes. Having a twinkle in your eye is very ‘APPEALING’. Some people appear attractive from some angles and downright unattractive from others. It may be to do with facial symmetry, lighting etc. I also think there are very few people who could be described as ‘ugly’. There are just various levels of attractiveness, and that depends who’s judging!
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 am
aesthetic beauty..
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 am
what else can we say? absolutely and exceptionally unlikeable hog
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:18 am
she might have something that you foceus on eyes hair neck chin? or she could have a plain ole kinky way of walking, talking, and doing everything else aka johnny depp in pirates girls would normally think that was a hott but his swagger and cofidense/********* is hot lol
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:58 am
me and my mom always had this debate about Sarah jessica parker who plays Carrie in SATC. she is not beautiful or has any sex appeal but she is very attractive when all dolled up, we came to the conclusion it was because she was glamorous and always well turned out and feminine. in SATC she also always carried herself with that air of confidence walking in New york in her Manolo blahniks, that is VERY attractive but facially she still isn’t beautiful.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 am
Smart, I guess.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Striking