I was a flight attendant for 10 years. From nail color to body size, these were the strict beauty rules I had to follow.
A former flight attendant shares her experience with the strict, often discriminatory beauty and grooming standards enforced by airlines during her decade-long career. She notes a positive shift as some modern carriers begin to relax these rigid policies.
Why it matters
The story highlights the evolution of workplace culture and the move away from outdated, gendered appearance requirements in the aviation industry.
Alona Vasylieva was a flight attendant for Ukraine International Airlines for 10 years and had to follow strict beauty rules. Courtesy of Alona Vasylieva I was a flight attendant for 10 years in Ukraine, where I had to follow strict beauty standards. My skin, hair, clothes, and body size were monitored. I tracked my food and exercise and booked beauty appointments during layovers to maintain my looks. When I started my career as a flight attendant at 22 in 2012, the beauty rules for women immediately surprised me. I worked for the now-grounded Kyiv-based Ukraine International Airlines, the nation's former flag carrier, from 2012 to 2021. From the minute I submitted my application, it was clear that appearances were a major part of the airline's image. The upper age limit for new applicants was a strict 27.
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