The saying goes that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.
But have you ever wondered what the ‘perfect’ man looks like?
Now, just in time for ‘Dating Sunday’ – the busiest day of the year on dating apps – happn has uncovered what the most popular men on its dating app in 2025 look like.
A tall ‘finance bro’ might by the first to spring to mind, if the viral ‘Man in Finance’ TikTok hit is anything to go by.
However, happn’s analysis actually shows that the ‘ideal man’ is now a 5’7″ architect.
Claire Rénier, a dating expert at happn, said: ‘It seems creativity, stability, and personality now beat height and a fancy job title.
‘Who would have guessed that blueprints are sexier than spreadsheets?’
If you don’t meet these criteria, don’t panic – there are several other ways you can update your dating profile to make you stand out the Dating Sunday.
Forget 6’5″ finance bros! The ‘ideal man’ is now a 5’7″ architect, dating app analysis reveals (stock image)
Happn’s analysis found that the most like profiles in 2025 were for those from Glasgow, named either Emma or James.
In terms of heights, the most liked women stood at 5’2″, while the most popular blokes were 5’7″ tall.
If you’re not a 5’7″ James or a 5’2″ Emma, thankfully there are several other scientifically-backed things you can do to boost your chance of finding love online.
1. Pose with a dog
Studies have shown that posing with your furry friend in a picture is a sure fire way to increase your number of matches.
Dr Helen Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute in Indiana and a chief adviser to Match.com told the New York Times: ‘Having a dog really says something about you.
‘It says you can care for a creature, that you can follow a schedule and get home to feed it, that you can walk it and love it and spend time with it.
‘That’s the bottom line message that women get when they see a man with a dog: He’s capable of nurturing, of giving without receiving a lot, of caring for another.’
Join the debate
What do you think makes someone truly attractive in today’s dating world, beyond looks or job titles?
Studies have shown that posing with your furry friend in a picture is a sure fire way to increase your number of matches (stock image)
2. Ditch the sexy snaps
You might be tempted to select sexy snaps for your profile – but studies show that it is best to leave things up to the imagination before meeting in real life.
For example, researchers from the University of Arizona found that people with sexy photos on their dating profiles are more likely to seen as incompetent and unlikeable.
Meanwhile, a team from the University of Colorado revealed that men who pose topless on Tinder are seen as more promiscuous.
3. Use a subtle chat-up line
While not everyone’s cup of tea, a chat-up line can grab attention and help help break the ice during an initial interaction.
Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China sayd that subtlety and creativity is the secret to a successful one liner.
‘Your eyes are like morning dew’ and ‘your garden is a sea of flowers’ are apparently the way to a woman’s heart.
In contrast, direct and crass chat-up lines such as ‘those clothes would look great in a crumpled heap on my bedroom floor’ or ‘your lips are so sexy’ won’t get you anywhere, the research suggests.
4. Stay humble and real
Keeping your online dating profile humble and realistic is the key to success, researchers from the University of Iowa have previously revealed.
They found that people who are looking for love online are less apt to trust a person with a flashy profile.
Instead, they prefer a potential partner who appears not only successful, but humble and real as well.
5. Use spell check
Spelling errors are a big no-no on dating profiles, according to a study from Tilburg University.
Their research found that if a profile has spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, it is perceived as less intelligent – and is less likely to be a match.
‘This is subsequently likely to be perceived as unattractive,’ says report author Tess Van der Zanden from Tilburg University.