Aquiline Nose: What It Looks Like & What It Symbolizes

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Plus, hair and makeup tips to flatter and celebrate your distinctive nose

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Last Updated: December 12, 2025

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What's an aquiline nose?

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Historical & Cultural Significance

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Is it attractive?

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Celebrity Examples

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Reshaping Options

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Flattering Your Nose

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FAQs

An aquiline nose is a strong, distinct nose that’s commonly associated with power and strength. It’s known for its prominent bridge and slightly downward-curving tip, and it’s a source of pride for many who have it. In this article, we’ll explore what it looks like, its cultural and historical significance, and ways to flatter it with hair and makeup so you’re always proud of your nose!

Aquiline Nose: Overview

An aquiline nose has a strong, prominent bridge and a tip that curves slightly downward. This curving tip gives it a beak-like appearance often associated with strength, wisdom, courage, and nobility. The aquiline nose is known for its powerful side profile and is considered attractive by Western beauty standards.

Section 1 of 7:

What is an aquiline nose?

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An aquiline nose has a prominent bridge and a slightly downturned tip. The curve at the tip of the aquiline nose goes downward, giving the nose a beak-like tip that resembles that of an eagle (the word “aquiline” comes from the Latin aquila, meaning “eagle”).^{[1]
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Research source} It is often called a Roman nose, as historical leaders like Julius Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, and others depicted in Roman statues, had it. This has famously associated the aquiline nose with traits like strength, nobility, and wisdom.
- Common aquiline nose features include a high bridge, prominent nasal bones, and a strong side profile.
- The aquiline nose is traditionally held in high regard due to the past prominence of Eurocentric beauty standards, which perceived it as superior to other nose shapes from around the world.

Section 2 of 7:

Historical & Cultural Significance of the Aquiline Nose

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Aquiline noses were historically a sign of leadership, courage, and nobility. In Ancient Rome, the aquiline nose was associated with qualities like leadership, strength, and intelligence. Its curved look associated them with eagles in Native American cultures, which symbolized courage. In European cultures, it has been associated with nobility, pure lineage, beauty, and distinct personality.^{[2]
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- The strong bridge creates a commanding look from the front and side, symbolizing strength and power.
- Wise Roman leaders like Emperor Augustus also had aquiline noses, symbolizing their nobility.
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Aquiline noses have also been wrongly associated with racial superiority. During the post-Enlightenment period of the 19th century and beyond, aquiline noses were characterized as a symbol of nobility and beauty over other noses, like the Nubian nose. For example, in Aphra Behn’s novel Oroonoko, a noble African prince is depicted with Eurocentric features, like an aquiline nose, thin lips, and straight hair.^{[3]
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- This set him apart from other Africans while simultaneously minimizing their natural features in favor of Eurocentric ones, associating aquiline noses with racial superiority in the process.
- Although the aquiline nose has been perceived as superior due to Eurocentric beauty standards, this doesn’t make it any better than other types of noses, as all noses are equally unique in their beauty.

Section 3 of 7:

Is the aquiline nose attractive?

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Yes, the aquiline nose is considered attractive by many different people. Everyone has different ideas of attraction, but the aquiline nose has been beloved by many cultures due to its strong, distinct appearance. Its prominence helps harmonize and balance out the face, contributing to facial symmetry and attractiveness.^{[4]
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- Again, it’s important to remember that attractiveness is different for everyone, so what one person finds ugly, another will love.

Section 4 of 7:

Celebrities with Aquiline Noses

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Plenty of celebrities have aquiline noses, from Meryl Streep to Hailey Bieber. The aquiline nose is common in many different cultures, and by extension, many celebrities have one. From Hailey Bieber and Meryl Streep to Erin O’Connor and Adrian Brody, these celebrities tend to freely and proudly showcase their aquiline noses:^{[5]
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- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Gisele Bündchen
- Lady Gaga
- Julia Garner
- Barbara Streisand
- Sandra Escacena
- Ruth Negga
- Camille Cottin
- Amy Winehouse
- Mona Tougaard
- Cheryl Tweedy
- Rossy De Palma
- Myriem Boukadida
- Sofia Coppola

Section 5 of 7:

Procedures That Reshape the Aquiline Nose

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Rhinoplasty and dermal fillers are popular options for changing aquiline noses. The aquiline nose is considered distinctive and attractive by many, but some people may prefer a different profile for themselves. Rhinoplasty involves shaving down your nose to change the overall shape and profile, while fillers are non-surgical injectables that add volume to strategic areas for a more balanced look. The procedure you choose depends on how you want your nose to look and whether you prefer surgery or not:
- Reduction rhinoplasty: This procedure removes bone and cartilage to smooth the bridge and is used to reduce the dorsal hump for a smoother side profile.
- Nasal tip refinement surgery: This surgical procedure reshapes and sharpens the tip of the nose.
- Dermal fillers: This non-surgical procedure uses gel-like substances that are injected into the skin to add volume and reshape the nose.

Section 6 of 7:

Flattering Your Aquiline Nose with Makeup & Hair

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Highlight your aquiline nose strategically to flatter it. Highlighting your aquiline nose shows that you’re proud of your nose and don’t want to minimize it. Makeup artist Nini Efia Yang says that contour makes your nose smaller, while highlight can bring it forward visually.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Nini Efia Yang
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview} So, highlight your aquiline nose to celebrate it!
- To highlight your aquiline nose, apply contour to the front-sides of your nose, starting from your eyebrows and working down to the tip. Then, apply highlighter to the tip and above the dorsal hump (the bump in the bridge that gives you your distinct, aquiline look), but not on it.
- Try not to heavily shade the tip of your nose, unless you want it to be more prominent than it already is.
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Choose a haircut that flatters your aquiline nose. Pick a haircut that balances your facial features and lets your nose shine without drawing too much attention. If you’re looking for something that softens the appearance of your face, go with side-swept bangs or a pixie cut. If you’re looking for something to balance out your facial features and proportions, opt for curls or a voluminous style that has a lot of hair on top.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Are the aquiline nose and Roman nose the same thing? Roman and aquiline noses are typically categorized as the same, but some differences separate them, like the stronger hook on the Aquiline nose. Depending on who you ask, you may get a different answer on whether or not they are the same, but the general consensus is that they are, just with minor differences.
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Are aquiline noses genetic? Yes, aquiline noses are genetic, like other bodily features. You inherit your nose type from your parents, who inherit their nose types from their parents, and so on. This means that your aquiline nose has likely been in your family for generations. It can also be a result of different nose combinations throughout your bloodline.^{[7]
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Why is it called an aquiline nose? The word “aquiline” originates from the Latin word “aquilinus,” which means “eagle-like.” This refers to the curved rip of the aquiline nose, which resembles the curved beak of an eagle.^{[8]
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How can I celebrate my aquiline nose? Express your love and pride for your nose. Whether it be in a journal, your Notes app, or to your friend group, expressing how much you love your nose is a great way to celebrate it and remind yourself that it’s attractive and something to be proud of, especially if people have tried to downplay it in the past.
- It doesn’t have to be over the top, either; a simple “I am so thankful for my nose” will do just fine, even if it’s just to yourself.