Discussion about how Indians look

Hi, I don’t know if this is just my inferiority complex or something I genuinely believe, but I’ve always had mixed feelings about how most Indian people look — our complexion, body structure, height, and overall appearance. Personally, I often feel that, on average, Indians are not as physically appealing as people from certain other regions like Europe or Central Asia. I don’t mean this disrespectfully — it’s simply how I’ve perceived things over time, and I know it probably reflects my own insecurities as well.

I’m 30 years old and have lived in India all my life, so I’ve seen people from nearly every background and state. Based on what I’ve observed and read, I think our appearance as a population is influenced a lot by our ancient genetic roots and our environment.

From what I understand, most Indians carry a mix of three main ancestral components — the Ancient Ancestral South Indian (AASI) genes, Neolithic Iranian farmer ancestry, and the Steppe or Aryan-related genes. The AASI ancestry forms a large part of our genetic makeup, and it is believed to be linked with traits that evolved in tropical and humid conditions over thousands of years. This ancestry, along with the hot and humid Indian climate, may have shaped certain physical features common among Indians — like darker skin tones, shorter height, and a specific body frame suited to the environment.

Over generations, our bodies have adapted to the high temperatures and intense sunlight — darker skin provides protection, and lighter bone structures help in heat dissipation. These are practical evolutionary adaptations, but they also influence how we’re perceived in terms of appearance, especially when compared with colder-climate populations whose features evolved differently.

I also think the beauty ideals promoted in media — which often favor Euro-centric or colder-region features — have made many Indians, including me, feel less confident about how we look. Sometimes I catch myself comparing Indians with foreigners and feeling disappointed, which I know isn’t fair or healthy.

Even in my own family, I’ve noticed variation. I come from a Rajput background in Uttar Pradesh, and people often tell me that I look a bit different — taller, fairer, and more in line with what’s often called conventionally attractive. But my parents and sister have more typical Indian features, and that difference sometimes makes me question why I even think this way.

I realize a lot of this might come from internalized bias and exposure to global beauty standards that don’t really represent us. I don’t want to sound judgmental or disrespectful toward anyone — I’m just trying to understand why I feel this way and whether it’s something I need to work through.

That’s all I wanted to share.