Comparison of Facial Proportions Between Beauty Pageant Contestants and Ordinary Young Women of Korean Ethnicity: A Three-Dimensional Photogrammetric Analysis

Background Although the harmony of facial proportions is traditionally perceived as an important element of facial attractiveness, there have been few objective studies that have investigated this esthetic balance using three-dimensional photogrammetric analysis. Objectives To better understand why some women appear more beautiful, we investigated differences in facial proportions between beauty pageant contestants and ordinary young women of Korean ethnicity using three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetric analyses. Methods A total of 43 prize-winning beauty pageant contestants (group I) and 48 ordinary young women (group II) of Korean ethnicity were photographed using 3D photography. Numerous soft tissue landmarks were identified, and 3D photogrammetric analyses were performed to evaluate 13 absolute lengths, 5 angles, 3 volumetric proportions, and 12 length proportions between soft tissue landmarks. Results Group I had a greater absolute length of the middle face, nose height, and eye height and width; a smaller absolute length of the lower face, intercanthal width, and nasal width; a larger nasolabial angle; a greater proportion of the upper and middle facial volume, nasal height, and eye height and width; and a lower proportion of the lower facial volume, lower face height, intercanthal width, nasal width, and mouth width. All these differences were statistically significant. Conclusions These results indicate that there are significant differences between the faces of beauty pageant contestants and ordinary young women, and help elucidate which factors contribute to facial beauty. The group I mean values could be used as reference values for attractive facial profiles.