Timeless Beauties
Beauty isn't everything. but it can help a woman form a lasting image. At the risk of sounding shallow, good looks are one of the most powerful weapons a woman can have in her arsenal, and she can use them to inspire art, make her voice heard, and create a legacy. Let's take a look at some of the most beautiful women in history.
1. Nefertiti
Nefertiti, whose name means "the beautiful one has come forth" lived in the 14th century BCE, one of the wealthiest periods of ancient Egypt. When Nefertiti's bust was discovered in 1912, she was catapulted to the status of beauty icon. the bust depicts a woman with high cheekbones, arched brows, and a knowing smile.
Giovanni from Firenze, Italy on Wikimedia
2. Cleopatra
A woman of surpassing beauty, the surviving images we have of Cleopatra are shockingly subdued. Coins and statues depict her with strong Macedonian features and a modest hairstyle. The only hint we have of her legendary luxury is the jewelry she's draped in.
John William Waterhouse on Wikimedia
3. Simonetta Vespucci
Nicknamed "the fair Simonetta", Simonetta Vespucci was one of the most beautiful woman of the Renaissance. Vespucci had strawberry blonde hair, long lashes, and a narrow nose, all the makings of an early "It Girl". it's no wonder Botticelli depicted her as the goddess of love and beauty several times.
Workshop of Sandro Botticelli on Wikimedia
4. Hedy Lamarr
Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr won her first beauty contest at the tender age of 12. Her soft brows, porcelain skin, and regal features quite literally took people's breath away when she appeared on screen. A woman of beauty and brains, Lamarr also invented early technology for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Employee(s) of MGM on Wikimedia
5. Frances Stewart
One of Charles II's many, many mistresses, Frances Stewart inspired the image of Britannia that can still be seen on some British coinage. Like many beauties of her age, Stewart had "sleepy" eyes, a soft chin, and a sloping nose. Unfortunately, she was marked by smallpox at the age of 20.
6. Emma Hamilton
Another classic English rose, Emma Hamilton was known for her blue-grey eyes and "peaches and cream" complexion. Scandalously, Hamilton was painted wearing billowy clothes that left little to the imagination, with her auburn hair trailing down her back. Her image still informs standards of English beauty today.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
7. Eleanor Of Aquitaine
Sources are conflicted on Eleanor of Aquitaine's appearance. Some say that she had dark coloring, while others claim light eyes and reddish hair. One thing everyone could agree upon, however, was that she was gracious and lovely, with intelligent eyes.
8. Lucrezia Borgia
In comparison to the rest of her family's darker coloring, Lucrezia Borgia had hazel eyes and blonde hair that fell past her knees. She was similar in appearance to Renaissance depictions of Minerva, the goddess of war and art. However, her most appealing feature was her natural grace, which made her "walk on air'.
Bartolomeo Veneto on Wikimedia
9. Evelyn Nesbit
The archetypal Gibson Girl, teenage Evelyn Nesbit was one of America's first pin-up girls. Nesbit's dark eyes, curly hair, and soft features were like catnip to artists, who reproduced her image in art & ads. Unfortunately, Nesbit's beauty also led to great suffering, when she caught the eye of several powerful and abusive men.
Gertrude Käsebier on Wikimedia
10. Yang Guifei
Yang Guifei was one of the four beauties of China, women whose beauty and impact stood the test of time. Emblematic of Tang Dynasty beauty standards, Yang was full-figured with a radiant complexion. Yang was also a fashion icon, as she was believed to have invented the hezi bodice.
11. Cléo De Mérode
Cléo De Mérode wasn't just the most beautiful women of the Belle Époque, she was also one of the first modern celebrities. De Mérode was known for her almond-shaped eyes and raven dresses done up in a trendy chignon. She was one of the first woman to have her image wildly circulated and the subject of much gossip.
12. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe's beauty needs no introduction. Her platinum blonde hair, glossy red lips, and hourglass figure are among the most recognized in the world. Monroe carefully controlled her image, relying on stereotypes about blondes and double entendres to hide her business savvy.
13. Lillie Langtry
Like so many other women on this list, Lillie Langtry embodied the ideals of her era, with violet eyes and a peachy complexion. Her fair skin drew comparison to the flower whose name she shared. In 1882, Langtry become the poster-girl for Pears soap, making her the first celebrity brand ambassador.
14. Marie Antoinette
Although you wouldn't be able to tell from her powdered wigs, Marie Antoinette had ashy blonde hair, along with blue eyes, and a prominent lower lip, endemic of her Habsburg heritage. Unfortunately, Marie's detractors used her foreign features to alienate her in political caricatures. She set many trends for hair and fashion.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
15. Padmavati
Whether or not Padmavati existed is debated among historians, but there's certainly more evidence for her than for Helen of Troy! The most beautiful princess of the Sinhalese kingdom (modern-day Sri Lanka), Padmavati's beauty drove men to madness and destruction. She lived some time in the late medieval era.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
16. Barbara Palmer
Another mistress of Charles II, and by far the most notorious one was Barbara Palmer. Like Frances Stewart, Palmer had fair skin and dark hair with heavy-lidded eyes. The king definitely had a type!
Remigius van Leemput on Wikimedia
17. Empress Elisabeth
One of the most beautiful women of the 19th century, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was extremely neurotic about her looks. Elisabeth washed her chestnut hair every two weeks in a mixture of eggs and cognac, and counted each fallen hair. During this process, she used the time to brush up on her language skills.
Franz Xaver Winterhalter on Wikimedia
18. Maude Fealy
Striking looks have always been important for actresses, but they were especially so in the silent era. Without words to guide them, actresses like Maude Fealy relied solely on their expressions to convey the full range of human emotion. Fealy's soulful eyes and angelic beauty gave her a perpetually youthful look.
probably Lizzie Caswall Smith, Bain News Service on Wikimedia
19. Fawzia Of Egypt
Fawzia of Egypt was often compared to another great beauty on this list: Hedy Lamarr. It isn't hard to see the resemblance between the two; both have similar face shapes, hairstyles, and complexions. Even their hairlines are similar!
20. Mata Hari
A deadly beauty, Mata Hari (real name: Margaretha Geertuida Zelle) claimed Indonesian and Jewish heritage to make herself appear exotic. Zelle was tall and slender, carrying herself with the grace of a trained dancer. Zelle accentuated her appearance with risqué costumes and theatrical dance moves.
