97% of women worldwide feel judged for how they look

97% of women believe they are judged on how they look, and 61% have received negative comments or abuse about their appearance.

The research was conducted in urban and suburban areas across the UK, Germany, Spain, Mexico, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A survey of over 10,000 female-identifying women, aged over 18 years old, has revealed global attitudes to the judgement that women face over their appearance.

Of the women surveyed, 97% believed they were judged for how they look, with a majority (61%) also receiving abuse or negative comments in person, or online.

Interestingly, abuse and appearance-based commentary were lowest for the women surveyed in the UK (48%), while the highest levels were reported in Mexico (68%).

The disappointing findings were juxtaposed, however, by the empowering suggestion that women are still passionate about their appearance autonomy: 88% of those surveyed said that they believed women should be free from social judgement, and 90% stated that they should be able to do whatever they want with their appearance.

Moreover, 75% of the women surveyed also believed they are "powerful" and these rates were highest in the countries where women reported facing the most negative judgement for their appearance.

Women in Mexico (91%), and the Middle East (82%) were the most likely to consider themselves powerful, and women in the UK (51%) were the least.

The survey was conducted by aesthetics company Sinclair, for its MaiLi hyaluronic acid fillers brand and the launch of its "My Power" campaign, which says no to judgement.

It found that judgement surrounding women's looks is universal with regional nuances. Almost all women believe in appearance autonomy and the right to live free from judgement; however, most have been victims of harmful abuse and comments about their appearance, including former supermodel Paulina Porizkova who made headlines recently.

Photographed in black lingerie at nearly 58, Porizkova faced online abuse and judgement. Respondong to the backlash online, she said, "I am not trying to represent all women of my age. How could I? How could anyone? Don't we all look different and isn't that where our beauty lies? In our uniqueness?"