14 Historical Figures Who Were Incredibly Good Looking

Many find history boring when they’re younger, only to grow up to appreciate the valuable stories and lessons that history teaches us. From royal love stories to stories of average people overcoming hardship, there’s a story in the history books for everyone to enjoy. History is full of many fascinating figures, and we often forget they were human. Not only were they very real, but some of them were incredibly good-looking.

Let's look at 14 famous historical figures and acknowledge they had both interesting lives and good looks!

Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria

It’s no secret that Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria was naturally beautiful, but the lengths she took to maintain her natural beauty are infamous. She maintained her slim figure through an intense diet (her diet consisted of foods like oranges, milk, raw beef juice, egg whites mixed with salt, and laxatives) and exercise routine, so intense that modern doctors would likely diagnose her with an eating disorder like anorexia. She maintained her beautiful skin through unorthodox treatments, including a face mask made of raw veal. She also nourished her famously long locks by washing her hair "every three weeks with a mixture of raw eggs and brandy."

Cleopatra

While we’ll likely never get a perfect description of Cleopatra’s appearance, there’s no doubt that she used her beauty to her advantage during her lifetime. There are no first-hand accounts of her looks, but two centuries after her death (the closest account of her appearance that we could find), Roman historian Cassius Dio described her, saying, “For she was a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking; she also possessed a most charming voice and a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to everyone.” 

The Romanov Sisters

The four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia – Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia – are often remembered as a collective and were all considered beautiful, especially the middle daughters, Tatiana and Maria. One contemporary described Tatiana as “Slender with auburn hair and clear gray eyes, she was strikingly good looking and enjoyed the attention her beauty commanded.” Lord Louis Mountbatten, cousin to the Romanov sisters and uncle of Prince Philip, remembered the four girls fondly, particularly Maria. He wrote, "Oh, they were lovely, and terribly sweet, far more beautiful than their photographs show. I was crackers about Maria, and was determined to marry her. She was absolutely lovely. I keep her photograph in my bedroom – always have."

John F. Kennedy

All it takes is a pair of eyes to acknowledge that President John F. Kennedy was very handsome (ask any man or woman who the most handsome president is, and they’ll probably say JFK). Despite serving less than one term in office before being assassinated in 1963, he’s well-remembered in pop culture for his good looks, charming personality, and numerous extramarital affairs.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Known as one of the most beautiful and stylish first ladies of all time, Jackie Kennedy Onassis was so much more than John F. Kennedy’s wife. Celebrated in pop culture to this day, she’s remembered for being poised, elegant, educated, and kind. She was proof that women could have it all, and we love her for it.

Jack Kerouac

While the famous novelist is mainly remembered for his works like On The Road and his contributions to the Beat Generation and Hippie Movement, he was also a certified heartthrob. He looks more like an Old Hollywood star than a famous writer. Unfortunately, Kerouac died of an abdominal hemorrhage when he was only 47.

Gayatri Devi

Born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar in West Bengal, she was one of the most beautiful royals of the 20th century. After marrying Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur, she was revered for her beauty, so much so that Vogue called her one of the most beautiful women in the world. Aside from her life as a royal, she was also known as a fashion icon and advocated for the rights of women and girls in India.

Ernest Hemingway

Similar to Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemingway is mainly remembered for his contributions to the literary world through famous novels like For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. He was also known for his eventful love life and four wives, and you can see why when you look at pictures of him when he was young.

Charlotte Bronte

While most of us remember her as the author of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte was the personification of Victorian beauty. Portraits show her to have dark blonde or light brown hair, flawless pale skin, and bright eyes. History Collection describes her as having “very fair skin and the kind of large, bright eyes that women used toxic nightshade drops to achieve. Her personality was timid and retiring, which was also attractive to many men in the era.”

Marie Antoinette

While Marie Antoinette is mainly famous today for her execution and words she never said, she was noted as incredibly beautiful in her lifetime. She has been described as "blessed with thick, ash-blond hair, large, grayish blue eyes, and a radiant complexion." She was also a fan of beauty treatments like an elaborate DIY skincare routine and had a keen interest in fashion.

Eva "Evita" Perón

You likely know her from the 1996 musical film, Evita, where she was played by Madonna (cue her iconic rendition of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”), but the former First Lady of Argentina is widely remembered for her beauty. Before her political career, she moved to Buenos Aires as a teenager to become an actress. She went on to become a fashion icon and one of the most influential women in the history of Argentina. Unfortunately, her career and her life were cut short due to cancer in 1952. She was 33 years old.

Grace Kelly

Before she became Princess Grace after marrying Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956, Grace Kelly starred in movies like Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, and To Catch A Thief. Her timeless and elegant style made her an icon in both Hollywood and Europe, and she proved to be beautiful inside and out due to her dedication to charity work as a royal.

Johannes Brahms

An entry on nearly every list of “attractive historical figures,” Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic period in the mid-19th century. Influenced by legends like Beethoven and Mozart, Brahms’ work is less famous but still widely respected. While he was rumored to have had a love affair with Clara Schumann, the wife of his mentor, Brahms never married.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is so popular that calling her a pop culture icon might be an understatement. She’s the ultimate pop culture, beauty, fashion, and Hollywood icon. While her life ended in tragedy, she’s remembered for not only her beauty but for her intelligence and resilient attitude toward anything in life. It may have taken decades for the world to take her seriously, but she is remembered as much more than a pretty face.

Closing Thoughts 

From crazy royal family feuds to crime stories that are stranger than fiction, history is far more interesting than we give it credit for. It only makes sense that so many historical figures were incredibly good-looking, making some of their stories all the more interesting.

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