From head to toe, cultures around the globe
garner diverse perspectives on what it is to be sexy.

By Maria Tettamanti
Photography by Crawford Morgan

When Victoria’s Secret launched its “What is Sexy?” print and television campaigns, the ad designers didn’t leave much to the imagination. The lingerie powerhouse’s definition of desire was depicted through saucy snapshots of supermodel Gisele Bündchen in dental-floss-like lingerie while her unnaturally bountiful bosom runneth over lace-trimmed cups. The campaign undeniably defined America’s answer to sexy and that was:

Skin and bones + boobs to boot = sexy

Argh. The ads made me want to run to the nearest plastic surgeon and ask for a simultaneous boob job and tummy tuck. I’m not kidding. Being a reasonable woman, I didn’t do so, but I have met an American gal or two – sigh – who have fallen for this What is Sexy? stereotype.

Funny but true, this pea-brain Super Bowl halftime commercial actually stimulated my mind and begged the question: “On a global scale, what is sexy?” So I forged onward and asked folks of every creed and color the aforementioned question. Of course their answers were personal opinions and generalizations, and not scientifically proven facts, but they were nonetheless funny, frank, stimulating and sometimes heartwarming insights. Read on and you’ll see just what I mean.

“In order to exist, you must be thin. Otherwise, you are wallpaper.”

Blame Barbie, blame Hollywood, blame Brazil – the majority of the American men and women I encountered sided with my aforementioned theory that American men like huge tits, small waists and legs that go on for hours.” Many women seem to agree with this notion. Says one American woman, “Open up any publication or watch any TV show – the models and actresses are all skin and bones. It’s no wonder I find myself yoyo dieting and entertaining the thought of going under the knife.”

“Bling it on”

To add on to the superficiality quotient, many of my female U.S. specimens admitted to being attracted to – surprise, surprise – a gentleman by the name of Benjamin Franklin. “I want a man who can bring home the bacon – that’s sexy. I don’t want to have to pick up the dinner tab,” says one woman. Another emale source adds, “Ambition makes me so horny.” I like to call this gold-digging dogma as the cult of “Bling Believers.” After digging up a few bling believers, it’s evident that many American women are attracted to men with thick wallets and bank accounts surpassing seven digits.

“Women are valued for how they look, rather than for who they are.”

So while my American guinea pigs proved to be quite superficial, they were not alone in this shallow train of thought. In Argentina, for example, one male source says, “Argentina is known for its beautiful people. Our women are super skinny and sexy.” Personally, I couldn’t agree more. On a recent trip to the Paris of South America, I was shocked by just how “pin thin” every woman there is compared to the rest of the well-fed world. To be honest, I’m 5′9″ and 135 ounds, and I truly felt like a wildebeest among Buenos Aires’ boney babes. So it didn’t surprise me when I researched the fact that in Argentina, nearly 12 ercent of the adult female population suffers from anorexia and bulimia. That’s an estimated three times greater than in the U.S.”Women in Argentina are very stressed out over their appearance and their bodies,” says Juan Luis Linares, a psychiatrist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Our society is characterized by a certain machismo in which women are valued for how they look, rather than for who they are, so women are determined, at all cost, to be skinny, because that is what is currently perceived as beautiful.”

“I like big butts and I cannot lie.”

Well, it’s refreshing to know that not everyone believes bare bones are beautiful. In fact, the verdict is in: almost every African-American and Cuban I queried admitted to the sexual prowess of a “booty-licious” bottom. Think J. Lo or picture Beyonce jiggling her moneymaker. The booty has been immortalized through these entertainers. Even songs (like Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”) and poems have been dedicated to the glorious gluteus maximus and there’s a reason: some folks find big butts beautiful. One African- American source says it best: “Full, voluptuous bottoms are very much appreciated.” Another source states, “My African-American culture is all about thickness. Thickness being the lovely roundedness of breasts, hips, butts and thighs.” She adds, “I think both black men and women appreciate curves.” My Cuban informant says, “Sexy in my culture means curves, baby – in all the right places.”

“It takes a pretty face and grace.”

I was pleasantly surprised – because my Indian interviewees mentioned neither breasts nor buttocks. One woman from Punjab, India says, “For women in our culture, it’s typically sexy for them to have long black hair, big brown eyes, pink lips, a slender frame, and a complexion of the fairer side. These sexy standards are by all means changing in modern times, but typically this is what is portrayed in films and desired by some men who are looking for marriage partners.” As for the opposite sex, she adds, “For men, the standards are pretty much the same except sexiness is also defined by being taller and more muscular. It’s also sexy if they have a bubbly, outgoing personality, since Punjabis are definitely talkative, energetic people. Oh, and if you can dance bhangra or giddha well, then you’re definitely hot stuff!” Refreshing, right? Even more fascinating, one Indian source says, “Men appeal to the neck and throat of women – a woman’s grace, and to a certain extent, sex appeal is all in her throat area. Slender, longer necks and throats are more graceful.”

“The whiter, the better.”

I found the replies of my Honduran and Mexican interviewees most intriguing, for what they found provocative was rather peculiar. Their answers coincided with the notion that looking “white/American” (picture highlighted tresses and light skin) is deemed desirable. A Honduran source says, “Blonde and fair-skinned women garner a lot of attention, as there are not too many of them. This fascination fuels the thriving beauty salon business, as all women regularly lighten their hair.” It’s apparent that some South Americans shun their sun-kissed skin, dark manes and extrinsic appeal – and would rather channel the stereotypical “American” – blonde and fair. My Mexican male source puts it best: “I like gringas – light skin, light eyes, light hair. They are rare here in Mexico.” Proof of this proposal is evident in Latin American beauty pageants. Just take a gander at their contestants – they are generally very “white” looking and nothing like the “norm.” I truly find it ironic how we Americans revere the exoticness of the South American people and viceversa.

“Meet me at the beauty parlor.”

As a loyal fan of tri-monthly manicures and pedicures and constant trips to the hair salon, I was in total accordance with my Lebanese interviewees. A Lebanese source says, “I can assure you that Lebanese men love well-groomed ladies – Lebanese ladies get their hair done once a week. Women will not walk out of the house without their best clothes on, hair done, nails manicured and makeup on.”

“I dig my people.”

They say that “Bird’s of a feather, flock together,” and this proverb strongly pertains to my Jewish informants. Each one admitted to the belief that what they find appealing are people of their same faith. “I really find Jewish men sexy,” says one respondent. “Religion is very important to my family, so I would never date outside my Jewish roots. With that said, being Jewish is desirable.”

“Foot loose and fancy free.”

One Chinese source alluded to the fierceness of the foot, which was no surprise as foot binding (the act of crippling feet to stop growth and to appear “lily footed”) has China-based roots. Foot binding is intended to make a woman more desirable, increase her “marriageability” and increase her social status. My Chinese interviewee says, “Women’s feet are sexy, but feet are really just another part of the human body, one with a tremendous number of very sensitive nerve endings. Incorporating foot play into lovemaking can foster intimacy and trust.” Unfortunately, in our American culture, feet have become taboo – they symbolize dirtiness, animalism, ugliness and something to keep invisible.

From head to toe, cultures around the globe garner diverse perspectives on what it is to be sexy. But at the end of the day, this question can be answered with the old saying, “Different strokes, for different folks.” I like to think my Australian source classifies sexiness the best. He says, “I’ve been married for 20 years. And what I find sexy is her smile. No matter how old we grow, her smile stays the same, and that is sexy.”

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