20 Historical Figures Who Were Sensations in Their Day, but Are Considered “Ugly” Today

During the Elizabethan era, the queen was the ultimate fashion icon thanks to her pale, austere complexion and incredibly high forehead. Her appearance might seem a little unsettling to us today. This is all the more striking given that she used white lead-based makeup—a toxic substance—to achieve that ghostly glow.

The Sun King was the envy of all of Europe with his imposing, voluminous wigs and his penchant for tight-fitting stockings and high heels that showed off his legs. He embodied the archetype of masculinity in the 17th century. One might have thought he was heading to a costume party rather than a business meeting.

Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, was known for her floor-length hair and her waist so slender that a spoon could have fit through it. Hairdressers spent hours every day braiding her hair. To a modern observer, her extreme proportions and the sheer weight of her hair would likely seem more exhausting than attractive.

In his day, George Washington was considered extremely handsome and imposing. Most people don’t realize that he also powdered his hair. If you ran into him on the street, his chipped teeth and dusty white hair probably wouldn’t strike you as very attractive.

This French queen was a true fashion pioneer of her time; she often wore hairstyles several tens of centimeters high, adorned with actual objects, such as model ships. While her contemporaries were fascinated by her extravagant style, you would likely find her heavy makeup ridiculous. She embodied the Rococo ideal, which was to be as artificial and ornate as possible.

With his dark, striking features and imposing black wig, Charles II was known as a charming “merry monarch” who had no trouble attracting attention. His pencil-thin mustache and the excessive ruffles on his outfits were considered very elegant. Today, his look might seem a little too theatrical.

Napoleon was actually not as short as legend would have us believe, but his hairstyle and his choice of high-waisted breeches epitomized the height of fashion in the early 19th century. He sported a “Brutus” haircut, which was meant to imitate that of the Roman emperors. But to our eyes today, it generally looks like a poorly styled bowl cut.

The name Casanova is synonymous with “great seducer,” but his portraits actually show a man with a very long, prominent nose and a receding chin. In the 18th century, his wit and his elegant silk coats were enough to make him the most sought-after man in the room. If you came across his profile on a dating app today, you’d probably swipe left.

Henry VIII had nicknamed her “the Mare of Flanders” because she did not resemble her portrait, but her features were actually highly regarded in her native country. She had a very full, majestic face and wore loose-fitting German-style clothing. To our eyes, her appearance seems a bit old-fashioned and austere.

Before becoming king, George IV was a “dandy” obsessed with tight corsets and extremely high collars that brushed against his ears. He was considered the most elegant man in England. But his excessive use of lipstick and his imposing figure would not win him a beauty contest today.

As Louis XV’s chief mistress, she invented the “Pompadour” hairstyle and embodied the 18th-century French ideal of beauty. Her look was characterized by very round, rouged cheeks and a soft, plump face—symbols of wealth and health. Today’s preference for angular jawlines and sharply defined features makes her soft, powdered appearance seem somewhat outdated.

Byron was the first “rebel” poet, and women all over Europe swooned over his pale complexion and brown curls. In reality, he suffered from clubfoot and was constantly dieting to maintain that “frail” appearance that was in vogue during the Romantic era. While he was the quintessential idol back then, his melancholic and sickly aesthetic might seem dull today.

Biographers of antiquity described Alexander as having a “mesmerizing” gaze and a unique tilt of the head that everyone tried to imitate. He is famous for refusing to grow a beard when all other men did. To our modern eyes, his wavy “lion’s mane” and wide-eyed gaze seem a bit more intense than seductive.

This Italian noblewoman was famous for her blonde hair and her delicate, fair features, which inspired many Renaissance painters. She often spent entire days in the sun, wearing a special hat designed to lighten her hair. Her very high forehead and lack of eyebrows—which were in fashion at the time—would likely give her a rather intense look today.

He may be a villain on the big screen, but Richelieu was considered a very elegant and refined man at the French court. His long, slender face and impeccably groomed “Van Dyck” goatee epitomized sophisticated masculinity. Today, his angular features and long red robes might well make him look more like a cartoon villain.

It was Brummell who convinced men to abandon wigs in favor of suits, making him the most influential fashion designer in history. Although he embodied the height of “dandyism,” his stiff neckties and obsessive concern with appearance would seem incredibly demanding and stuffy today.

History describes her as a great beauty, but Roman coins depict her with a very broad, aquiline nose and a prominent chin. Her charm likely stemmed more from her voice, her intelligence, and her incredible charisma than from the symmetry of her face. If you were to meet her today, you would no doubt be surprised to see how different she is from the Hollywood portrayals embodied by Elizabeth Taylor or Gal Gadot.

This French revolutionary was nicknamed “the Incorruptible” and always made sure his hair was perfectly powdered, even when things got chaotic. He had a very angular face and a rigid posture that was considered very dignified during the Age of Enlightenment. Today, with his pale, smallpox-scarred skin and intense gaze behind his glasses, he wouldn’t exactly make the cover of a magazine.

He is generally imagined as an imposing, bearded man, but in his youth, Henry was considered the most handsome prince in all of Christendom. He was athletic and tall, with golden-red hair. Since modern tastes tend to favor more pronounced features, his facial features might seem a bit delicate to a contemporary observer.

When he lived in France, Franklin was a true rock star, and women even went so far as to style their hair in the “Franklin style” to pay homage to him. He emphasized his “rustic” American charm by wearing a fur hat and refusing to wear a formal wig. Even though he was the darling of Parisian salons, his receding hairline and glasses no longer really make him seem like an “international symbol of love.”