The human obsession with rankings is nothing new. From wealth tables and power lists to world records, society loves defining who comes out on top. But when it comes to beauty—arguably the most debated and subjective human quality—the rules are far less clear.
Attempting to bring science into the conversation, a London-based plastic surgeon has used mathematics and facial mapping to rank the most “beautiful” celebrity women in the world, based not on opinion or popularity, but on facial symmetry and proportion.
Dr Julian De Silva, a British plastic surgeon at the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in London, applied the ancient Greek concept of the Golden Ratio—also known as Phi—to modern computerised facial analysis. The Golden Ratio, long associated with balance and aesthetic harmony, has historically been used in art, architecture and anatomy.
By combining this principle with advanced facial-mapping software, Dr De Silva developed what he calls the Golden Ratio Score—a percentage measurement that evaluates how closely a face aligns with mathematically “ideal” proportions.
Using this method, he analysed the faces of leading female celebrities and compiled a top ten list based purely on symmetry and proportion, removing personal taste, style or charisma from the equation.
According to the results, supermodel Bella Hadid emerged at the top of the ranking with a score of 94.35%, making her the closest match to the Golden Ratio among the celebrities analysed. Her facial balance, eye spacing and jawline symmetry placed her ahead of the rest.
Music icon Beyoncé followed closely with 92.44%, praised for her balanced facial structure and strong symmetry, while actress Amber Heard ranked third at 91.85%, driven by her jawline definition and proportioned facial features.
Pop star Ariana Grande secured fourth place with 91.81%, narrowly ahead of Taylor Swift, who scored 91.64%. Both were noted for harmonious facial alignment and symmetry that fit classical beauty measurements.
Fashion legend Kate Moss placed sixth with 91.05%, reinforcing her long-standing status as a global beauty benchmark. Scarlett Johansson followed at 90.91%, recognised for her sculpted features and balanced facial spacing.
Rounding out the list were Natalie Portman (90.51%), Katy Perry (90.08%), and Cara Delevingne (89.99%), each praised for distinctive features that still align closely with the Golden Ratio.
While Dr De Silva’s findings offer a scientific perspective on beauty, experts continue to stress that attraction remains deeply personal, shaped by culture, individuality and emotion—factors no formula can fully capture.
