How To Recognize Someone With A Beautiful Soul, According To Our Psychologist

At Glam, we're well-versed in outer beauty. We can tell you which classic style trends are making comebacks in 2025 and which lip colors will make your eyes pop, but admittedly, inner beauty is a little harder to identify. A beautiful soul sounds like an easy enough concept to grasp; noughties pop star Jesse McCartney famously sang that it was simply "something special" back in 2004. But according to Dr. Menije, a licensed psychologist at Embracing You Therapy in Woodland Hills, California, the definition of a beautiful soul is slightly more complicated, relating to traits like authenticity, gratitude, courage, and vulnerability in the face of adversity. 

"We often experience those having a beautiful soul or inner beauty when they have embodied authenticity where their outer presentation matches their inner self," Dr. Menije explains. "So often, there is a disconnect where people are putting up a front and unwilling to be their vulnerable self around others due to fear of rejection or judgment. Those with an inner beauty have made peace with their inner demons and past where they are comfortable showing up as their true self, with the strengths and the flaws." 

In our exclusive chat, Dr. Menije notes that there are a few situations within a relationship — and earlier on in the dating game — where you can look for signs pointing to this openness. Identifying a beautiful soul partly comes down to your own intuition, but there are a few clear hints that someone embodies these traits. 

Speaking exclusively to Glam, Dr. Menije notes that one of the main keys to recognizing a beautiful soul when you see one is observing how people handle challenges and difficult times. Beautiful souls tend to face those tricky moments with tenacity, not allowing tests to get the better of them. "Having a beautiful soul doesn't mean you are always in a positive mood and optimistic, and never struggling or feel fearful," she confirms. "It is about being vulnerable and showing up authentically and courageously when life is challenging and hard. A key quality in those moments is to hold space for those challenges with grace, compassion, and hope. That's when we know we are around a beautiful soul."

A common situation where a beautiful soul will become apparent — or won't — is in arguments within couples and other close relationships. As a reminder, fighting with your partner is a journey, not a battle to win, and one of the outcomes is understanding how each of you meets the challenge with grace. A beautiful soul will still manage to feel empathy and compassion, even in the midst of an argument, and will gracefully resist hitting below the belt, even if their argument style is fiery.

Ideally, you'll want to know if the person you're dating has a beautiful soul before you get to the comfortable stage of the relationship where you're deep-diving into difficult conversations and arguments. Dr. Menije assures us that it's possible to identify this kind of person earlier on; you just have to look for a few recurring characteristics. "In relationships, I would also recommend looking out for those who are good listeners and can 'sit in the dark' with you without problem-solving and fixing," she shares exclusively with Glam. "Because those with a beautiful soul can tolerate your pain and stay with you while you sort it out, not rush to get you out of the dark because of their own discomfort." Overall, she suggests dating people who are good at listening and always encouraging and supportive when you need them.  

It might take some time to recognize these qualities in someone you're dating, but there are still a few dating app green flags that can set you up for a successful romance and point to a beautiful soul. In general, a potential date with a beautiful soul will be inquisitive about you from the get-go, as this hints at someone who is willing to listen rather than just talk about themselves. Someone who clearly has the same values and beliefs as you is also more likely to be supportive and encouraging about issues that you face. While keeping an eye out for these traits can be helpful, ultimately, an in-tune intuition will feel when someone gives off good vibes — and when someone is being inauthentic.