February 2025
This new study follows previous Discurv surveys conducted across Europe on the sexiest celebrities in countries such as France and Italy.
Eden Hazard tops the list with 24% of the votes, confirming his status as Belgium’s most attractive sports figure. His charisma and media presence, notably as the former captain of the Red Devils, play a key role. Dries Mertens (12%) and Thibaut Courtois (11%) follow closely, showing that football remains the dominant sport when it comes to perceived attractiveness, though other disciplines are also represented.
Younger generations tend to prefer modern, highly visible figures. Regionally, Flanders and Wallonia show notable differences, especially regarding local personalities.
Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois attract a significant female audience, confirming their appeal beyond athletic performance. Male respondents are more dispersed in their choices, with interest extending to athletes from cycling, athletics, and other sports.
Belgian sportswomen captivate the public through their fame and media exposure. Age plays a major role in preferences, with younger respondents favoring contemporary figures, while older ones identify less with today’s sports icons.
Regionally, voting patterns vary between Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. Some athletes enjoy stronger support within their home regions.
Women mainly voted for Matthias Schoenaerts and Kevin Janssens, confirming their attraction to charismatic and media-prominent figures. Men were more divided, showing a balanced distribution among candidates.
Respondents aged 18–34 favored modern figures such as Matthias Schoenaerts, Kevin Janssens, and Louis Talpe. Those aged 50+ preferred more established names like François Damiens or Benoît Poelvoorde. The 66+ age group most frequently answered “None of these celebrities,” indicating a certain detachment from current public figures.
Flemish regions supported local actors like Louis Talpe and Matthias Schoenaerts more strongly. Wallonia was more balanced, while Brussels displayed a mix of both trends, supporting both French-speaking and Flemish actors.
Virginie Efira stands as Belgium’s undisputed symbol of seduction, holding a clear lead over other personalities. A marked generation gap appears, with younger audiences preferring modern figures, while older respondents show less engagement in the celebrity ranking.
Regional belonging plays a role, with preferences differing between linguistic communities. Men and women also perceive attractiveness differently: men tend to favor glamorous, media-exposed personalities, while women show a more diverse range of choices.
These results confirm that perceptions of attractiveness in Belgium are strongly shaped by media image, cultural identity, and generational differences.
Younger respondents (18–34) voted more for fresh and dynamic figures like Guillermo Guiz and Nicolas Lacroix, while older participants leaned toward Luc Gilson. A clear divide appears between Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels: Walloon and Brussels residents tend to agree more on certain TV profiles, while Flemish respondents seem less attached to the personalities listed.
The majority of votes came from men, suggesting that these male TV figures appeal more to a male audience. Women appeared less engaged in this category, possibly explaining the high abstention rate.
Men were more likely to vote for media-glamorous figures such as Nawel Madani and Gaelle Garcia Diaz. Women showed a more balanced distribution, favoring personalities known for their charisma and authenticity.
Younger respondents (18–34) tended to prefer social media and trend-driven personalities, while older respondents opted for more established figures from television or comedy.
Flemish personalities generally enjoy greater recognition than their Walloon or Brussels counterparts. Regional distribution clearly reflects cultural and media exposure differences.
Respondents aged 18–34 favored modern and dynamic artists such as Metejoor and Loïc Nottet. In Flanders, Dutch-speaking singers like Metejoor and Tourist LeMC dominate.
In Wallonia, Stromae, Loïc Nottet, and Damso lead the rankings. Brussels shows a more mixed balance, with both French- and Dutch-speaking artists represented. Women seem more attracted to artists with a strong image and distinct style, such as Stromae, Loïc Nottet, and Pierre de Maere.
Angèle reaffirms her status as an icon of seduction, particularly among men and younger generations. Preferences vary widely by region and age, with a contrast between modern figures and more classic icons. Respondents aged 18–34 favored Angèle and Shay for their trendy, contemporary image, while older groups (50–65 and 66+) leaned toward established artists such as Axelle Red.
Walloon respondents overwhelmingly voted for Angèle, while Flanders was more divided between Pommelien Thijs and Selah Sue.
Male votes were dominated by Angèle, who appeals strongly to that audience, while female votes were more varied, spreading among Axelle Red, Shay, and Selah Sue.
Some figures are more popular in Wallonia (e.g., Angèle, Matthias Schoenaerts), while others appeal more to Flanders (e.g., Pommelien Thijs and certain Flemish athletes). Bilingual or international personalities (such as Virginie Efira and Eden Hazard) are well-regarded nationwide.
Men tend to favor glamorous, media-prominent personalities like Angèle, Nafissatou Thiam, or Virginie Efira.
Women place more emphasis on charisma and longevity, voting more for Matthias Schoenaerts, Eden Hazard, and classic figures like Axelle Red.
A study led by:
Audrey Mandefield, Senior Account Manager
Pauline Poché, Head of Insights Team
WHEN CITING THIS STUDY, PLEASE USE AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING FORMULATION:
“Discurv study for XloveCam conducted via online self-administered questionnaire in December 2024 among a sample of 1,000 people representative of the Belgian population aged 18 and over.”