From social media filters to salary bumps, an exploration of how the beauty advantage plays out across cultures — and why pretty average looks might be just the right amount.
Author: Rabea Weihser
Rabea Weihser, born in 1981, studied Systematic and Historical Musicology and Business Administration in Hamburg, focusing primarily on music sociology and digitalized cultural production. Alongside her studies, she worked for various radio stations. She joined ZEIT ONLINE in 2006. Initially, she worked as a music editor and was head of the culture department at ZEIT ONLINE from 2014 to 2020. Her book “How We Became So Beautiful: A Biography of the Face” was published by Diogenes in spring 2025. In it, she explores, among other things, the psychology behind today’s beauty ideals.