Is there such a thing as being too attractive? For fitness influencers, it turns out there might be.

Contrary to popular belief, new research suggests that being too good-looking can actually be a disadvantage, particularly in the online fitness space.

The study, coauthored by researchers at the University of Dayton and University of Oregon, found that the more attractive the influencer, the lower the engagement they received on their social media posts.

The reason? It all comes down to a sense of relatability, and what researchers have termed the “beauty backfire effect.”

In the study, researchers showed 299 U.S. adults mock Instagram posts featuring a highly attractive female fitness influencer, a moderately attractive one, or a text-only control. The “halo effect” and “pretty privil

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