The Golden Ratio, also known as the divine proportion, is a mathematical concept that quantifies ideal proportions in nature and art. In recent years, the Golden Ratio has been applied to human faces to determine facial beauty and attractiveness. But which celebrity has the closest to perfect Golden Ratio face?
What is the Golden Ratio?
The Golden Ratio is represented by the Greek letter phi (ø) and is calculated to be approximately 1.618. It is derived from the Fibonacci sequence, a sequence of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…). The Golden Ratio is found by dividing one number in the Fibonacci sequence by the number before it, which converges on 1.618 as the numbers get larger.
This ratio has been observed frequently in nature, architecture, and art over centuries. The Ancient Greeks discovered the divine proportion in rectangles, equilateral triangles, spirals, and pentagrams. They believed basing design and aesthetics on the Golden Ratio resulted in objects that were innately beautiful and appealing.
When applied to the human face, the Golden Ratio can be used to determine facial symmetry and mathematically ideal proportions. Measurements are taken of the eyes, nose, lips, chin, and overall face shape. Those whose features closely match the Golden Ratio are considered to have the most beautiful, proportional faces.
The Golden Ratio and facial attractiveness
Studies have shown there is a strong correlation between a person’s perceived attractiveness and how closely their facial proportions match the Golden Ratio. Faces that adhere to the divine proportion are symmetrical and have ideal spacing between features. This signals health, fertility, and genetic quality according to evolutionary psychology.
Some key markers of an attractive Golden Ratio face include:
- The length of the face is about 1.5 times the width
- The distance between the eyes is equal to the width of one eye
- The width of the nose is equal to the distance between the eyes
- The corners of the mouth line up with the center of the eyes
- The top of the ears line up with the eyebrows
- The height of the ear is equal to the length of the nose
Faces that closely adhere to these proportions are rated as more attractive across cultures. However, small deviations can still be considered beautiful, as absolute perfection is rare. The most appealing faces strike a balance between ideal proportions and unique characteristics.
Celebrities with high Golden Ratio face scores
Here are some male and female celebrities that have been analyzed as having very high Golden Ratio facial proportions:
Males
| Celebrity | Golden Ratio Score (out of 1) |
|---|---|
| George Clooney | 0.991 |
| Brad Pitt | 0.987 |
| Ryan Gosling | 0.982 |
| Chris Evans | 0.940 |
| David Beckham | 0.934 |
Females
| Celebrity | Golden Ratio Score (out of 1) |
|---|---|
| Scarlett Johansson | 0.982 |
| Natalie Portman | 0.957 |
| Katy Perry | 0.951 |
| Kate Moss | 0.948 |
| Taylor Swift | 0.932 |
As seen above, George Clooney tops the list for males with a near perfect 0.991 Golden Ratio score. For females, Scarlett Johansson edges out the competition with a score of 0.982.
How is the Golden Ratio calculated for faces?
Determining someone’s Golden Ratio face score requires taking exact measurements of facial features and distances between landmarks. Measurements are taken from celebrity photographs using digital imaging software and calculating proportions.
To measure the Golden Ratio of the face:
- Measure face length from hairline to chin
- Measure face width across the cheeks
- Divide face length by width to derive Golden Ratio score
- Measure length and width of each facial feature
- Calculate Golden Ratio between pairs of measurements (e.g. nose length to nose width)
- Compare all ratios to the ideal Golden Ratio of 1.618
- Derive overall score of how closely the face adheres to Golden Ratio proportions
Scores closer to 1 indicate a face that is very close to perfect Golden Ratio dimensions. Even small deviations from 1.618 start to negatively impact perceived attractiveness and facial harmony according to the ancient divine proportion.
Conclusion
The Golden Ratio has long been used as a mathematical formula for ideal beauty, and continues to be applied to human faces today. Measurements of facial proportions that closely match the Golden Ratio of 1.618 signal attractiveness across cultures.
Celebrities like George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson exemplify high Golden Ratio facial scores, giving them an enviable balance of ideal dimensions. But deviations from perfection can still be striking and beautiful in their own way.
While the Golden Ratio provides an interesting guideline, human attraction is complex and individual. Different features can complement each other in endless variations of beauty that numbers alone cannot capture.