The Medieval Podcast Medieval Beauty
Jan 1, 2026
Explore the fascinating link between modern icons like Marilyn Monroe and medieval beauty standards. Discover how ideals of fairness, pear-shaped figures, and facial features shaped perceptions of attractiveness. Danièle dives into historical hair dyeing practices and cosmetic remedies from the Trotula manuscript. She also discusses the moral implications of beauty practices in medieval times, alongside research that shows how attractiveness impacts social perceptions today. Reflect on how today's beauty norms echo those of the past.
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Modern Biography Prompted A Medieval Dive
- Danièle describes reading a recent Marilyn Monroe biography and watching a documentary to compare modern beauty culture to medieval practices.
- The book lacked images, prompting her to reflect on how photography changes our understanding of beauty.
Naturalness Versus Cosmetic Augmentation
- Danièle notes the tension that augmented beauty is prized only when perceived as natural, echoing medieval condemnation of cosmetic augmentation as vanity.
- Medieval writers treated artificial enhancement as sinful while society still rewarded the resulting appearance.
Medieval Fairness Mirrors Modern Ideals
- Medieval beauty prized fairness of skin, light hair, red lips, and a pear-shaped body rather than the modern bombshell hourglass look.
- These ideals parallel 20th-century standards like those associated with Marilyn Monroe.
