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This one is for Elsa - Too pretty to touch?

When I was younger, I thought life would unfold like one of those romance movies: meet cute, butterflies, a handhold in the park, and then—bam!—my first kiss would follow. But here I was, no hand-holding, no grand romantic gestures, and certainly no swoon-worthy confessions of love. Instead, I was left with a chorus of people telling me, “But you’re a 10! Boys are just intimidated.”

Intimidated? Are we a potential girlfriend or a fire-breathing dragon? Being too pretty sounded like a compliment, but it often felt more like a paradoxical punishment.

Beauty Isn’t a Free Pass

Let’s talk about this so-called 10 status for a second. Society loves to peddle the idea that if someone is attractive, their life is basically a rom-com montage. They’ll be whisked away by charming suitors, serenaded under the stars, and showered with affection. But the reality? Sometimes it feels more like being stuck in a museum display—admired from afar but never actually approached. People stare, whisper, or even send friends to scope out the situation, but an actual, straightforward approach? Rare. It’s as if the face comes with a neon sign blinking, Do Not Touch. When someone is seen as “unreachable,” others project their insecurities onto them. Assumptions swirl—that they’re high-maintenance, uninterested, or only into people who moonlight as models. Meanwhile, they’re just sitting at home, wondering if anyone will ever look past the so-called perfect exterior to see the shy, romantic dreamer underneath.

The Marginalization of “Perfect”

Here’s where things get tricky: society tells women that beauty is power. But what happens when that power isolates you? Being labeled as a “10” often comes with an invisible barrier. People assume you’ve got suitors lined up around the block or that your life is so picture-perfect, you couldn’t possibly want or need anything. And while it’s flattering to be seen as beautiful, it’s also deeply lonely when people mistake your looks for unapproachability. Let’s not even get started on the myth of effortlessness. Beauty takes work—skincare routines, outfits, the occasional mental breakdown over eyeliner symmetry. But instead of appreciating the effort, people see the result and assume you’re untouchable, existing on some ethereal plane above the mere mortals who dared to swipe right.

The Benefits of Being a 10

Now, let’s not pretend there aren’t perks to being considered attractive. The world does seem to smile a little brighter. Strangers hold doors, baristas remember names, and compliments flow like a perfectly crafted latte. Society rewards beauty, and no one’s denying the occasional free coffee has its charm. But these perks? They come with asterisks. The admiration often feels shallow, a reflection of surface impressions rather than genuine connection. Sure, it might open doors, but it doesn’t guarantee anyone will walk through them—or that they’ll even knock. At the end of the day, beauty isn’t the golden ticket it’s made out to be. It’s more like a currency, and like any currency, it’s subject to inflation, depreciation, and the unpredictable whims of those holding it.

Redefining the Scale

When people say someone is “too pretty,” what they’re really saying is, I don’t know how to approach you as a human being. They’re too distracted by the packaging to remember there’s a real person inside, with all the quirks, fears, and dreams that make someone truly interesting. Don’t measure worth by how many admirers there are or how intimidating people think you are. Instead, lean into being a 10 in courage, kindness, and self-love. So, if you’re sitting at 18, wondering why this so-called “perfection” feels like more of a burden than a blessing, take heart.

To those who think you’re unreachable? Maybe they just need to climb a little higher. After all, being a 10 isn’t about coming down to someone else’s level—it’s about finding someone willing to rise to yours.

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