The strict beauty rules I had to follow as an airline flight attendant, from nail color to body size

Alona Vasylieva was a flight attendant for Ukraine International Airlines for 10 years and had to follow strict beauty rules.

Courtesy of Alona Vasylieva

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. Supervisors checked candidates' bodies for tattoos and scars during the initial medical exam. For those polished enough to pass, keeping up with the various grooming standards was almost a second full-time job.My hair, nails, makeup, and uniform all had to meet strict requirements, and I had to keep my body slim and my skin glowing. I could have faced disciplinary action for not keeping up.UIA ceased operations and entered bankruptcy after Russia's 2022 invasion. I now live in Ontario as a journalist, having left my career during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back, the appearance rules sound wild, but 10 years ago, they were still the reality for many commercial cabin crew — standards that had existed for decades, as flight attendants are often considered the face of the airline.Beauty expectations remain part of the airline industry. Some carriers still maintain conservative rules, but I'm happy to see many global airlines, especially in the US and the EU, updating their policies.For example, Ukraine's SkyUp Airlines began allowing female crew members to wear pants and sneakers in 2021. Virgin Atlantic has allowed visible tattoos since 2022, and Alaska Airlines removed gender-based dress requirements for cabin crew the same year.