Cleopatra's exact appearance remains partly mysterious, but historical evidence from coins, Roman statues, and busts provides a consistent basic facial structure. She is depicted with full lips, a strong sloping or prominent nose, large expressive almond-shaped eyes, and a small forehead. Her hair was styled in a distinctive "melon" fashion-segmented and gathered into a bun-with ringlets framing her face. She often wore a Hellenistic-style diadem (a royal headband) and used makeup like kohl around her eyes and plant-based dyes for blush and lipstick

. Roman sculptures, known for their realism during Cleopatra's era, show her with softly modulated features that reflect intelligence and charm rather than conventional beauty. Coins minted during her reign often show a sharp chin and deep-set eyes, but the portraits vary and sometimes portray her with a hooked nose and a somewhat plain or "shrewish" look, contrasting with the glamorous image popularized by Hollywood

. Despite not being described as a classical beauty by all ancient sources- Plutarch noted her beauty was "not altogether incomparable," while Cassius Dio called her "a woman of surpassing beauty"-Cleopatra's allure was more about her charisma, intelligence, and regal presence. She combined Egyptian, Greek, and Roman fashion influences, adorning herself with rich fabrics and abundant gold jewelry and gemstones, which added to her overall splendor

. In summary, Cleopatra likely had distinctive, strong features rather than delicate or conventionally beautiful ones, with her charm and intelligence playing a major role in her lasting historical and cultural impact.