Americans cite physical looks as a source of external judgment
Core finding
Asked what contributes most to how they are perceived by others, nearly half of adults (47.5%) name their appearance. Age comes next at 13.0%, followed by race at 10.9%, social class at 8.4% and gender at 6.5%.
Appearance is also something people spend on. About one-in-five adults (22.3%) put money into their physical appearance in the past year to help a current or prospective romantic relationship.
Appearance leads by a wide margin
Nearly half of adults (47.5%) say their appearance contributes most to how they are perceived by others.
No other trait comes close. Age is next at 13.0%, followed by race (10.9%), social class (8.4%), gender (6.5%) and sexuality (1.8%).
Topline
47.5% name appearance as what contributes most to how others perceive them; age (13.0%) and race (10.9%) trail well behind.
n = 1,000 · Jun 3–8, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%
The next trait depends on who is answering
Black adults are far likelier than White adults to say race contributes most to how others perceive them, 27.1% versus 6.2%.
Age looms largest for older adults: 25.7% of adults 65 and older name it, compared with 5.2% of adults 30-49.
Some back the judgment with money
About one-in-five adults (22.3%) say they spent money on their physical appearance in the past year to improve their romantic chances or experience, including 13.4% for a current relationship and 8.9% for prospective ones.
The spending skews young. Among adults 65 and older, 91.2% say they did not spend for this reason, compared with 62.7% of adults 18-29.
Topline
22.3% spent money on their appearance in the past year for romantic reasons, 13.4% for a current relationship and 8.9% for prospective ones.
n = 1,000 · Jun 3–8, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Jun 3–8, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | B |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
What do you think contributes most to how you are perceived by others? My...
- reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
Did you, in the last year, spend money on your physical appearance with the intent of improving your chances or your experience romantically?
Cite this topic
Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051, fielded June 3-8, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.