LAST EDITED ON 01-06-09 AT 04:44 PM (EST)LAST EDITED ON 01-06-09 AT 08:09 AM (EST)
Interestly, there is a scientific measure of beauty.
By doing blind tests (no, not with the eyes close) science has people judge pictures of others while varying the asymmetry of their faces and bodies without telling the viewers. The more even the shape, the more beautiful that person has judged to be. This appears to be universal world wide, no matter which country or culture you examine.
However, that is one set of measurements only. Culture imposes it's own. Weight is a simple one, in the West there is a push to thinner women for example, there are places where plumper is better. Shape of the breast are another. And on my trip to Dominica (not R.D.) I was told thick calfs were what men looked for in a woman.
Amazing Race had a funny segment where two stacked Blonds (large breasts, thin waists)) could not get the local men to look at them, much less help them in their tasks despite all their flirting. Along come the next couple (husband & wife) and when the wife bends over (she is Black like me, big bum), then she suddenly has all the men's attention.
In beauty size and shape are cultural in basis, with symmetry breaking the close ties.