Why you need a wingman

By Markham Heid

Top Gun taught the truth: every Maverick needs his Goose. According to a new study from the University of California, San Diego, your wingmen make you appear more attractive to women.

Researchers showed people photos of men and women posed either alone or in groups. Compared to the solo shots, guys standing with at least two others were judged to be significantly better looking. In some cases, the same person went from a “below-average” to an “above-average” hotness rating.

When your face appears alongside your mates', your potentially unattractive features are “balanced out” by the group, explains study coauthor Drew Walker. That slightly crooked nose or overbite—which would stand out if you were by yourself—fades into the collective background, Walker adds.

Whether you roll with two friends or 20, you’ll seem better looking as long as you’re standing alongside more than one other guy at the bar, the research shows. (Flying fighter jets for a living probably won’t hurt your chances either.)