Physical appearance matters. It's an uncomfortable truth, but one that affects us all. Whether we like it or not, our looks play an influential role in shaping our social interactions and opportunities in life. This happens in two primary ways.

First, studies show that we instinctively attribute positive traits to attractive people. They're often seen as more intelligent, sociable, and well-adjusted than their less attractive counterparts. This phenomenon, known as the halo effect, is so ingrained that even newborn babies are not exempt from it. Studies show that attractive infants receive more affection and attention from strangers and even their own mothers!

The impact of these biases extends far beyond social situations and has tangible real-world consequences. Economists found that physically attractive people earn roughly 12% more than those deemed unattractive. Even in courtrooms, attractive defendants tend to receive lighter sentences, unless their looks were directly linked to committed crimes.

Second, though we may pretend to shudder at the use of terms such as "ugly" or "unattractive," it doesn’t stop the discrimination. We may not voice it out loud, but society often penalizes those judged to deviate from conventional beauty standards. We discriminate regularly on this socially acceptable dimension. This bias is so pervasive that it could be considered one of the last socially acceptable forms of discrimination.

Knowing this, we do not lie quietly and accept this fate. Nope. We humans, ever adaptive, become masterful in the art of aesthetic enhancement. Our indulgent rituals speak for themselves. Our bathrooms become laboratories, where shaving foam, toothpaste, and an array of cosmetics are measured in proper doses before application. We wield mascara wands and lipstick tubes, painting our faces with precision, and modifying our hair with a fair share of gels, sprays, and dyes, in a bid to outsmart our genetic hand.

Our physical presentation is tailored to fit specific situations and roles. The aesthetic choices of a ballet dancer significantly diverge from those of an IT worker attached to a keyboard for eight hours, five days per week.

This isn't mere vanity; it's survival of the prettiest. It's our silent rebellion against a nearly universal prejudice. But here's the twist: those who are considered most beautiful, like professional models, are often the ones most negatively affected.

Researchers find that teachers, nannies, veterinarians, and restaurant managers tend to experience higher levels of life satisfaction, are more apt to self-actualize, and find it easier to satisfy basic psychological needs (for autonomy, belonging, and competence) than fashion models. Why? Because when the most redeeming quality of a multi-dimensional identity is physical attractiveness, the treadmill of trying to keep that desirability above threshold is both daunting and psychically damaging.

The worst thing we can do is pretend these biases and downstream discriminatory acts do not exist.

Trust those who recognize them.

Question those who deny them.

And strive, with intention, to minimize them.