Fewer than one in eight British men (12 per cent) and just three in 20 women (15 per cent) who have applied to BeautifulPeople.com have been accepted as members.

Existing members of the website rate how attractive potential members are over a 48 hour provisional period, when applicants upload a recent photograph and a short personal profile.

Website for beautiful people only They are rated by members of the opposite sex, who have four options to describe how attractive they think the hopeful is - 'Yes definitely', 'Hmmm yes, OK', 'Hmmm no, not really' and 'NO definitely NOT'.

Swedish men have proved the most successful applicants, with two-thirds (65 per cent) of those putting themselves forward being accepted.

Norwegian women are considered the most beautiful with more than three-quarters (76 per cent) making the grade.

Since the website was opened to UK members 295,000 people have applied, with only 35,000 being approved.

The website was founded in 2002 in Denmark and since then it has spread to other countries - becoming available in the UK in April 2005.

The 'elite dating site for beautiful people only', went live across the globe on 26 October this year. Over the past two weeks, the site has rejected nearly 1.8 million people from 190 countries.

From the total number of hopefuls, only 360,000 new members have been admitted - meaning five-out of-six applicants (83 per cent) have been turned away.

Sweden, Brazil and Norway are proving to be the most beautiful countries overall, with applicants from Germany and the UK among the least successful.

Beautiful People managing director Greg Hodge said: "Asking why British people are doing so badly is a tough question.

"It hurts me - I'm English.

"I think there is less emphasis on appearance in the UK than overseas.

"If you go to some countries they are very into how they look - very health and body conscious.

"The UK attitude is a bit more about kicking back and relaxing, and having a few drinks in the pub after work."

"I think there is less emphasis on appearance in the UK than overseas.

"If you go to some countries they are very into how they look - very health and body conscious.

I'm surprised the US didn't figure into that "worst looking" thing.

I mean, places like Utah and Wyoming probably have their fair share of troglodytes

Wouldn't there a be a bit of both in the US? I mean, places like Utah and Wyoming probably have their fair share of troglodytes, but wouldn't Florida and California be poon central?