From the pyramids of Giza to Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” – which illustrates the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – the golden ratio has been used to create some of the most beautiful, harmonious works of art throughout human civilisation. And now, this ancient Greek rule of proportion is being used to help people achieve the perfect face.
Harley Street facial cosmetic surgeon, Dr Julian De Silva has created a system of computerised mapping techniques using the golden ratio in a bid to “solve some of the mysteries of what it is that makes someone physically beautiful”, and help plan his patients’ surgery.
To demonstrate his technique, Dr De Silva applied the equation to some famous faces. Topping the list of physical perfection is Bella Hadid who was found to be 94.35 per cent ‘accurate’ to the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi.
“Her eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, chin, jaw, and facial shape were measured and came closest to the ancient Greeks’ idea of perfection,” Dr De Silva wrote on Instagram accompanying a breakdown of each of Hadid’s features.
Coming in at a close second is Beyoncé (92.44 per cent), followed by Amber Heard (91.85 per cent), Ariana Grande (91.81 per cent), Taylor Swift (91.64 per cent) and Kate Moss (91.05 per cent). The top ten further includes, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Katy Perry, and Cara Delevingne – all white, with the exception of Beyoncé.
Explaining more in-depth how the mapping works, Dr De Silva writes: “The length and the width of someone's face is measured and then the results are divided. According to the Golden Ratio, the ideal result is roughly 1.6.” He continues: “Measurements are then taken from the forehead hairline to the spot between the eyes, from the spot between the eyes and the bottom of the nose and from the bottom of the nose to the bottom of the chin.A person is considered to be more beautiful if the numbers are equal.
Attention is then given to the symmetry and proportion of the face. To be deemed 'beautiful' according to the Golden Ratio, the length of the ear must be equal to the length of the nose and the width of an eye should be equal to the distance between the eyes.”
