It is a question as old as the hills. Or at least as old as the first time a paparazzo snapped a photo of a celebrity walking away from a coffee shop. Everyone wants to know who has the nicest butt, but the answer depends entirely on who you ask and what year it is. Aesthetics aren't static. They shift. One decade we are obsessed with the "heroin chic" look of the 90s, and the next, we’re collectively staring at the Kardashians trying to figure out if anatomy actually works that way.
The truth is, there isn't a single winner. There’s just a rotating cast of icons who have defined the "perfect" rear end for their specific era.
If you look back at the early 2000s, the conversation was dominated by Jennifer Lopez. It’s hard to overstate how much J.Lo changed the game. Before her, the mainstream media was fixated on a very narrow, very thin aesthetic. Then came the 2000 Grammy Awards—yeah, the green dress—and suddenly, the world realized that curves weren't just okay; they were the gold standard. Rumors even swirled for years that she had insured her backside for millions of dollars. She didn't, by the way. She’s cleared that up on The Late Late Show with James Corden. But the fact that people believed it tells you everything you need to know about her impact.
The Science of What We Find Attractive
Why are we even talking about this? It feels superficial, sure, but there’s actually some evolutionary biology tucked under the surface. Researchers like David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, have spent decades looking at why humans find certain physical traits attractive.
It usually comes down to the waist-to-hip ratio.
Evolutionary theory suggests that a specific ratio—roughly 0.7—is a biological "green light" signaling health and fertility. This isn't just about size. It’s about the curve. When people argue about who has the nicest butt, they are often subconsciously reacting to this specific mathematical harmony. It’s why someone like Beyoncé or Shakira remains a constant in these "best of" lists. Their proportions hit that biological sweet spot that transcends fleeting fashion trends.
The Kardashian Shift and the Era of Volume
You can't discuss this topic without mentioning Kim Kardashian. Love her or hate her, she fundamentally rewired the global beauty standard. Around 2007, the focus shifted from "fit and toned" to "maximum volume."
Suddenly, the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) became the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the world.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported massive spikes in gluteal augmentation over the last decade. Kim’s silhouette—a tiny waist paired with extremely prominent glutes—became the blueprint. But here’s the kicker: as we move into 2026, the "BBL look" is actually starting to fade. We’re seeing a massive trend of "BBL reversals." Even Kim and Khloe have noticeably slimmed down. The "nicest" look is moving back toward something that looks like it was built in a gym rather than a surgical suite.
The Fitness Icons Taking Over
While Hollywood was busy with surgery, the fitness world was building a different kind of "best." Names like Jen Selter became famous literally just for their glute progress photos.
Then you have athletes.
If you look at professional sprinters or CrossFit athletes, you see a completely different version of the "nicest" aesthetic. It’s about power. Take someone like Serena Williams. Her physique is built for explosive movement. There’s a density and a functional beauty there that a lot of people prefer over the hyper-curated look of influencers. It feels real. Because it is.
Cultural Perspectives on the "Perfect" Rear
What counts as the "best" varies wildly depending on where you are on the map. In Brazil, the Miss Bumbum pageant is a national event. Seriously. It’s a massive deal. In that culture, the emphasis is on a "heart-shaped" look—full at the bottom and tapering up.
In many African cultures, particularly among the Zulu or Xhosa people, a prominent backside has been a symbol of beauty and status for centuries, long before it became a "trend" in Western media. It’s kinda funny—and a bit frustrating—to see Western influencers act like they discovered curves in 2014 when entire continents have been celebrating them forever.
Why the "Best" is a Moving Target
Honestly, the "nicest" butt is usually just the one that’s currently being marketed to us.
- The 90s: Minimalist, thin, almost non-existent.
- The 2000s: The J.Lo era. Toned but curvy.
- The 2010s: The BBL era. Extreme volume, often defying gravity.
- The 2020s (Now): The "Muscle" era. Strong, athletic, and functional.
We are currently seeing a huge rise in the "Peach" emoji culture, but with a focus on lifting heavy weights. The "nicest" now is often synonymous with "strongest." People want to see the "shelf" that comes from doing heavy hip thrusts and squats.
👉 See also: Wentworth Miller Current Picture: What the Internet Gets Wrong About the Star Today
Common Misconceptions About Getting the Look
A lot of people think you can just do 100 air squats a day and wake up looking like a fitness model. Nope. Biology doesn't work like that.
The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in your body. To change its shape, you have to challenge it with progressive overload. That means lifting heavier over time. It also means eating enough protein to actually build the tissue. You can’t starve yourself into having a great backside. If you lose too much weight, that’s usually the first thing to go.
Also, genetics play a massive role. Some people have a high muscle insertion point, which gives that "shelf" look easily. Others have lower insertions, which leads to a more "square" or "pear" shape. Neither is better, but it means your "best" version won't look like someone else's "best."
The Actionable Reality
If you’re looking to improve your own aesthetic or just want to understand the science of who has the nicest butt, focus on these three things:
Prioritize Compound Movements Forget the tiny leg lifts. If you want results, you need the big three: Squats, Deadlifts, and Lunges. But specifically, Hip Thrusts. Dr. Bret Contreras, often called "The Glute Guy," has built an entire career proving that the hip thrust is the single most effective move for glute activation. It hits the muscle in a way that squats just don't.
Watch the Ratio, Not the Weight Stop looking at the scale. The "nicest" look is about the proportion between your waist and your hips. Building your lats (the muscles in your back) and your glutes creates the illusion of a smaller waist. It’s all geometry.
Understand the "Pump" vs. Reality Those photos you see on Instagram? Half of them are taken with a "pump" (blood rushing to the muscle after a workout), specific lighting, and a very specific "twist" of the spine that makes the glutes look 30% larger. Don't compare your relaxed body in a bathroom mirror to someone’s highly-contorted, post-workout professional photo.
At the end of the day, the title of "nicest" is subjective. One person might say Margot Robbie, another might say Megan Thee Stallion, and another might point to a track-and-field star. The "best" one is the one that is healthy, functional, and makes the person owning it feel confident. Trends will change again by 2030, so chasing a specific "shape" is a losing game. Build strength, and the aesthetics usually follow.