Pretty Privilege in a Post-Pandemic World: Has COVID-19 Reshaped the Beauty Premium?

Physical appearance plays a significant role in shaping labor market outcomes. Research has consistently demonstrated the existence of a beauty premium, where individuals perceived as more attractive tend to earn higher wages and experience greater employment opportunities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered labor market conditions, potentially shifting the dynamics of appearance-based advantages. This study investigates whether the beauty premium persisted, diminished, or intensified in the post-pandemic labor market. In addition to examining the general effects of physical attractiveness, this study analyzes how key factors such as gender, industry, and race mediate the relationship between appearance and employment outcomes. Prior research, such as Hamermesh and Biddle (1994), has attributed wage differentials to taste-based discrimination and productivity signaling, yet few studies have explored how these mechanisms evolved in response to the pandemic-induced restructuring of work environments. Using data from the General Social Survey (GSS) for the years 2016, 2018, and 2022, this paper employs regression analysis to evaluate shifts in the beauty premium before and after COVID-19. The GSS collects nationally representative data on social and economic trends through biennial, face-to-face and telephone interviews using a multi-stage, stratified random sampling design, ensuring demographic and geographic diversity while maintaining consistency in core questions and incorporating rotating topical modules.