This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Lauren Sanchez. Find her on Instagram at @lauren.sanchezz. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Beauty trends are constantly evolving, with TikTok at the forefront of shaping what’s “in.” From clean girl minimalism to fairycore cottage fantasy, each aesthetic redefines how we approach beauty. The latest trend to spark a conversation? The boy pretty vs. girl pretty debate. This viral concept attempts to sort women into two categories: “girl pretty,” for women admired by other women, and “boy pretty,” for women deemed attractive to men.
Sounds simple, right? Not quite. No one can seem to agree on what these labels actually mean. Is it about how you do your makeup? Your natural features? Your overall vibe? The whole concept feels subjective – and honestly, a little counterproductive towards beauty standards. Critics are quick to point out that it leans heavily on male-gaze ideals, forcing women to squeeze themselves into yet another set of beauty boxes.
But here’s the thing: beauty trends like this aren’t just about aesthetics – they reflect how our ideas of attractiveness keep shifting and evolving. And while some might see this as just another TikTok moment, others argue it’s perpetuating problematic beauty standards that we should’ve left behind ages ago. So without further ado, let’s dive into the boy pretty vs. girl pretty beauty debate.
What Is Boy Pretty vs. Girl Pretty?
The “girl pretty vs. boy pretty” trend has sparked a viral conversation, dividing women into two perceived categories of attractiveness. The idea attempts to separate traits that appeal to women from those that attract men.
This isn’t the first time TikTok has fueled the categorization of beauty. Trends like “deer pretty,” “bunny pretty,” “siren eyes,” and “doe eyes” have already carved out increasingly specific – and unattainable – aesthetic ideals. But the ‘girl pretty vs. boy pretty’ debate feels even more divisive. While it may seem harmless at first glance, it perpetuates a deeper issue: the centering of beauty around the male gaze and patriarchal ideals.
Even when used ironically, these trends often create new pressures and insecurities for women, encouraging comparison and competition. By reducing beauty to binary categories, they overlook individuality and reinforce limiting standards that women have been working to dismantle for decades.
“Boy pretty” is a label often used to describe features or aesthetics that are thought to appeal to men. The look is typically soft, natural, and effortless, with minimal makeup. Fashion choices lean toward approachable and understated, like fitted jeans and casual tops, sundresses, or cozy sweaters, all designed to feel relatable and unintimidating.
This aesthetic also emphasizes a youthful, girl-next-door energy, highlighting subtle features such as symmetry, smaller noses, fuller lips, or wide, doe-like eyes. While these traits may align with societal assumptions about what men find attractive, they reduce beauty to a specific, male-gaze-focused standard. Critics argue that “boy pretty” reflects outdated ideas of beauty, pressuring women to prioritize male approval over their individuality and self-expression.
“Girl pretty” is often associated with an aesthetic that aligns with what other women might find attractive, emphasizing a more polished and glamorous look. Fashion-wise, “girl pretty” leans toward outfits that feel more deliberate and trend-forward, like fashionable dresses, tailored pants, or statement accessories. The focus is on showcasing confidence and individuality, with attention to detail in every element of the look.
This style embraces more traditionally “feminine” features, often including delicate or exaggerated facial traits such as high cheekbones, long lashes, and full lips. However, the emphasis on appearance can lead to a sense of competition and comparison, as it centers on societal standards of beauty that are often defined by a desire to be admired or validated by others, particularly other women.
How It Relates To Pretty Privilege
Pretty privilege equates value and worth of a person in society based on their attractiveness. And while we won’t go full in-depth to what pretty privilege is all about in this article (see our article that actually does!), pretty privilege and this beauty debate actually can go hand-in-hand.
Pretty privilege refers to the perks people – especially women – get when they fit into conventional beauty standards. It’s that unspoken advantage where you might get more attention, more opportunities, or be treated more kindly just because of how you look. The “girl pretty vs. boy pretty” trend complicates this by dividing beauty into two distinct categories based on who finds you attractive—other women or men. It creates this subtle, but very real, divide about who gets to experience the perks of being considered pretty.
For those who fall into the “girl pretty” category, their beauty might be more aligned with what other women find stylish or aspirational, which can definitely come with its own version of pretty privilege. These women might get noticed for their fashion sense or the way they carry themselves in a way that’s celebrated within female circles. On the flip side, “boy pretty” women are thought to fit more into the traditional mold of what men find attractive. They might experience pretty privilege in more mainstream, male-dominated spaces, where their beauty is validated by a more traditional, societal standard.
What’s tricky, though, is that both categories still feed into this very narrow, often limiting view of beauty. Instead of celebrating the wide range of ways women can be attractive, the debate encourages competition between women based on whose looks fit better into these defined categories. It also reinforces the idea that women’s beauty is something to be evaluated by others – whether it’s other women or men – which, in turn, diminishes the real diversity of beauty. So while both types of pretty privilege exist, they’re rooted in the same old idea that beauty must fit into rigid, external standards, which doesn’t leave much room for individuality or uniqueness.
Final Conclusion: Why Can’t We All Just Be Pretty?
At the end of the day, the “girl pretty vs. boy pretty” debate shows how much work we still need to do when it comes to breaking down beauty standards. Rather than celebrating the wide range of ways women can be beautiful, it forces them into boxes that reinforce old ideas about what’s considered attractive.
While both types of pretty privilege might seem like perks, they just continue the cycle of valuing women based on external approval – whether it’s from other women or men. Beauty shouldn’t be about fitting into a certain mold or competing with others; it should be about embracing individuality. Moving forward, we need to let go of these limiting labels and create a more inclusive, empowering view of beauty for everyone.
What do you think about the “boy pretty versus girl pretty debate”? Let us know in the comments below!
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