Should you ever date a guy who's better looking than you?

Lucy Mecklenburgh hit headlines this week when she proudly declared new beau Max George is the best looking guy she's ever been with.

But while the TOWIE star was clearly feeling rather pleased with herself, we were left wondering - is this a safe criterion for dating, or a recipe for a superficial values-led disaster?

Speaking out about her new love, Lucy Meck complained that her previous exes were vain, which surely begs the question: why go for a man who spends more time appreciating his own bod than yours?

[TOWIE's Lucy Mecklenburgh and Max Georgie spied snogging]
[Feeling moody and down in the dumps? Find out if you're suffering from IGS]

In an act of what would be called "willy-waving" if it were done by a man, everyone’s favourite TOWIE relationship victim Lucy Mecklenburgh has emerged fighting from the ashes of her romances with Mark Wright and Mario Falcone to reveal that Max George is the ‘best-looking guy’ she’s ever been with.

Presumably this ‘beauty bashing’ of Mark and Mario will have the desired effect of reducing both ‘hunks’ to snivelling wrecks in front of their bathroom mirrors, but where does this leave Lucy herself?

Having accused Mark of being obsessed with his looks, why does she then move onwards and (allegedly) upwards to a guy whose looks she is clearly obsessed with?

But it also makes us wonder whether it's ever OK to date a beautiful man. And what about taking things one step further and dating a guy who is more beautiful than you are?

Scientists often claim we are most likely to be attracted to, and attractive to a partner, who is in roughly the same ball park looks-wise as ourselves. But when the imbalance occurs, why does it always seem to be the uglier guy/beautiful girl combo that gets the envious looks, than vice versa?

Do we ever assume the first guy must just have a lot going for him, or do we actually ask what's really wrong with him?

I  don’t believe nature has the all the answers. For years experts have claimed men are attracted by looks so they can produce strong healthy stock, while women are attracted by power and/or money so they can receive protection.

Yet surely this evolutionary process would have led to women going for muscle and bulk while guys looked for child-bearing hips and super-clear skin?

In fact, our mating choices are far more likely to be based on parental role models and even fashionable fads. So, perhaps it’s about time the cliché of older, uglier powerful/rich guy with a model hanging on his arm should be scoped out to either sex.

But are you the sort of woman to be attracted by the trophy guy? And if so, is the beautiful guy really all he’s cracked up to be or not? Find out if he's the one for you below...

• The vanity factor. Not all beautiful people are vain but there is a current trend for the high-maintenance male beauty who spends hours in the gym and comes complete with a juggernaut of grooming products. Suspicions might grow that he loves himself more than he does you.

•  Compliments. If he gets them when you’re out together will you glow with pride, thinking how much his looks enhance your status and standing or might you feel humbled by the whole experience?

•  Do you have any struggles with you own self-esteem? If so the beautiful guy might not be for you. Arrogance or at the very least solid self-confidence might make a more comfortable match.

•  Do you have any body issues of your own? Would dating a guy who takes a smaller size in jeans than you do make you laugh or cry?

•  Are you superficial in your dating values? Would you date an amazing, kind, loyal, smart man who just happens to be beautiful as well or would you date the beauty first and keep your fingers crossed about the other qualities?

•  Are you more of an updater mater? Do you begin to get tired of your guys once they start to show signs of age and look to update them for a younger, fitter model? If you are basing your partnership values on looks alone no wonder you’re going off them once those looks start to fade. Stop making serial mistakes.

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