Beauty Standards Around The World: France

In popular culture, France is painted as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Americans have tried to mimic French style for decades, but what makes a French woman beautiful? How do the French evaluate beauty, and who’s the most beautiful woman in France?

What Is Beautiful in France?

Typically, French beauty has a very je ne sais quoi attitude. French beauty and fashion icons like Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin were able to pull off an effortlessly beautiful aesthetic, and this trend continues today. You can see this aesthetic on Pinterest and on Instagram from French beauty and fashion influencers.

The French see beauty as accentuating natural beauty and feeling good about yourself, which helps the effortless aesthetic. Kate Kasbee of Edit writes, “French ideals of beauty are imperfect, laid-back, and undone. In France, women believe the notion of beauty should be pleasing to oneself above all, and that the most beautiful women are the ones who look effortlessly gorgeous.”

Mathilde Thomas, founder of French beauty brand Caudalie and author of The French Beauty Solution, echoes this sentiment. She says, "Beauty is something to give you pleasure. Because when you feel good, you look good."

The Most Beautiful Woman in France

No one epitomizes the effortlessness of French beauty more than French model Thylane Blondeau. Named "the most beautiful girl in the world" when she began modeling as a child in 2007, Blondeau has grown into a beautiful young woman and has modeled for luxury designers like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

Whether she’s attending New York Fashion Week or posting candid photos on her Instagram, she always looks effortlessly put-together and beautiful. Blessed with natural beauty with her gorgeous blue eyes and flawless skin, nobody can pull off the je ne sais quoi look like she does.

Other than her popular Instagram account with 3.8 million followers and modeling career, she also runs her Paris-based clothing line, No Smile Clothing.

French Beauty Standards Compared to Global Standards

Americans have always been fascinated by the style and beauty of French women. There are many differences between the two cultures when it comes to beauty standards, some of the most prevalent being the lack of plastic surgery and the approach to casual style.

The French are known for being effortlessly beautiful, but that doesn’t stop them from looking put-together, and they apply this to their approach to casual fashion. In America, casual fashion is often mixed in with loungewear and athleisure. In France, casual means a cute blouse or sweater with a chic pair of jeans and cute shoes. It doesn’t take much effort to put the look together, and it’s incredibly chic.

Plastic surgery is very popular in America and non-Western countries like South Korea. Though French women still get plastic surgery, they aren’t as reliant on it as their American and Korean counterparts. When it comes to skincare, the French start young and focus on preventative care for aging skin before their first wrinkle even appears. They're also big into noninvasive treatments like massage and endermologie, which is included in their healthcare.

Kasbee writes, “Rather than using irritating skincare products, crash dieting, and plastic surgery to make themselves feel beautiful, women in Paris prioritize pleasure and love their bodies as they are. When it comes to maintaining a flawless complexion, the French base their beauty routines on prevention, or ‘tweakments,’ rather than quick fixes. Women take care of their skin from a young age using beauty routines and secrets passed down from their mothers and grandmothers.”

The French Appreciate Beauty in Every Aspect of Culture

From stunning cities like Paris to the gorgeous wineries in the French countryside, and the Mediterranean beauty of southern France, France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Like Russia, the French value beauty in every aspect of their culture.

From the cobblestone streets, the beautiful landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, and the scenic views from the Seine, Paris has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. Though it can be argued that shows like Emily in Paris romanticize the city too much, how can you look at these photos and not want to fall in love in the streets of Paris?

Cities in the South of France like Nice and Marseilles are some of the most aesthetically pleasing cities in the world. From the cities to the small villages, the beautiful architecture to the scenic beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, the South of France is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

From the wineries in the Champagne region of France to the villages spread across the country that look like they came out of a storybook, French beauty goes beyond the big cities. It’s no surprise that a country this naturally beautiful values natural beauty this much.

Closing Thoughts

The French often make perfection look effortless, and we can’t help but admire it. If we adopt some of the French ways of beauty like embracing our naturally beautiful features and sticking to a traditional skincare routine, we can pull off the je ne sais quoi look as well.