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Network's Beauty Survey Has Some Not So Pretty Results

AP photos

A survey shows a majority of women ages 18-34 would rather follow Caridee's career path, and not Nobel winner Martti Ahtisaari's.

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

A survey of 2,000 women ages 18 to 34 found that nearly 25 percent would rather win "America's Next Top Model" than the Nobel Peace Prize.

Is beauty more than skin deep? In an attempt to measure just how much young women prize their looks, the Oxygen cable network commissioned a research firm come up with an "outer beauty vs. inner beauty" poll.

The poll ties into an upcoming reality series, "Pretty Wicked" on which beautiful women will compete to see which the "prettiest inside."

According to the poll, conducted by the TNS research firm, this could be a challenge for women raised in a culture that places a high value on looks.

The poll covered five key themes in women's lives – appearance, fame & fortune, friendships, relationships and current events/finance.

Among the not so pretty findings:

26 percent would make their best friend fat for life, if it meant they could be thin.

25 percent said they would rather be thin than smart.

22 percent who consider themselves attractive would rather lose the ability to read
than lose their figure.

39 percent have used their looks to get something they want.

41 percent would be fine with knowing they were chosen for a job on looks alone.

50 percent would marry an ugly man if he were a multimillionaire.

On the positive side:

75 percent would be willing to shave their heads to save the life of a stranger.

78 percent would choose to have lots of friends over beauty.

95 percent would NOT leave their friend behind if she couldn't get into a hot club.

"This survey proves an interesting dissection of today's woman and how she relates her personal image with what she values in her life," says Dr. Jenn Berman, psychotherapist and "Pretty Wicked" judge. "And as shown in several results women today are a complex combination of altruistic and materialistic, vain and insecure, loyal and self-serving. This survey highlights the dichotomy in all of us."

"Pretty Wicked" debuts at 10 p.m. Tuesday on Oxygen with "America's Next Top Model Winner" CariDee English as host.

Over eight episodes, contestants (apparently picked because they are divas) will be competing for a $50,000 prize as they are "challenged to confront their mean spirited ways" and develop inner beauty.

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