Can an algorithm choose the most beautiful woman in the world? Let's debunk the myth: the parameters of beauty do not exist!

Written By: Elisa Avalle, Founder of LeLang

A few weeks ago, I happened to read an article stating that actress Jodie Corner (Killer Eve) was declared the most beautiful woman in the world by an algorithm based on the standards of Greek beauty that takes into account the proportions of the face. This prompted me to reflect: can an algorithm determine a woman's beauty?

"I believe it is impossible. Beauty and its standards evolve with society, and a mathematical equation cannot truly determine who the most beautiful woman in the world is. Julian De Silva, an internationally renowned plastic surgeon, has used facial mapping techniques to assess intangible aesthetic standards, the same techniques he should have used to know the accuracy of the procedures his patients undergo."

Sure, today we live in an era where everything is already decided: our social media knows exactly what we like to watch, Google knows our movements and suggests what might interest us the most, and streaming platforms like Netflix or Spotify have such sophisticated algorithms that they choose for us what to watch or listen to next. However, as much as algorithms allow us to simplify our entertainment, there are things they should not have control over. The most obvious is definitely that which concerns aesthetic standards.

This sophisticated data processing system exists only based on the information provided, the guidelines on which to base their responses. Therefore, even behind the calculation made by the computer about the most beautiful woman in the world, there was someone who provided the algorithm with a very specific aesthetic standard.

I understand and know perfectly the dynamics behind this world in which women often feel trapped. While it is true that there are features that may attract us more than others, the face of each person presents unique characteristics each time. It is those small details, sometimes even indefinable flaws, that make us fall in love, that attract us and make a face memorable. To think that there are aesthetic standards to fit into in order to be successful is profoundly wrong: it is necessary to start valuing our small differences and to consider how the very concept of aesthetic beauty has changed over the years.

"We must detach ourselves from standardization, at least when it comes to beauty. Customized cosmetics aim precisely at this: because a product may not be suitable for everyone and can have different effects and must be used in synergy with other products to achieve the desired effects."

The idea of producing a hyper-standardization of standards is profoundly unrealistic, and we cannot respond by proposing miraculous cosmetic products that are suitable for everyone. Beauty standards are different, multiple, and vary from woman to woman, from man to man, and it is therefore essential to move forward, to break free from the mechanism of forced standardization, and to work more and more on people and their real needs.

I personally take care of creating cosmetics that enhance the beauty of everyone, but I do it so that every woman or man knows how to value their unique and particular beauty. From my experience, I can say that there is no cosmetic product suitable for everyone's needs, and this has taught me a lot about what we continue to call beauty; there are no unique standards: personalized cosmetics are becoming a must precisely because we are realizing that objective beauty does not exist and that the needs of the skin, the enhancement of the face, and the fight against imperfections cannot work the same way for everyone.

I firmly believe that there cannot be an algorithm capable of telling us what we might like and what we might not, and that beauty is profoundly subjective. This is why we focus on providing personalized consultations to our clients to ensure that everyone feels good in their own skin in every situation. Beauty standards are constantly evolving, and simply following trends leads nowhere if they do not align with one's taste or the real needs of our skin. My goal is not to convey a message of mere self-acceptance, but to eradicate the habit of comparison and adaptation to a standard in people, allowing everyone to express themselves and their unique and inimitable beauty.

Elisa Avalle, LeLang CEO