HTN, MTN, LTN & Looksmaxxing Attractiveness Ratings, Explained

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Aesthetics and looksmaxxing authority Austin Wayne explains the PSL scale of attractiveness

Co-authored by Austin Wayne and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• HTN, MTN & LTN Meanings
|
• PSL Scale in Looksmaxxing
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• Why Looksmaxxers Rate Attractiveness
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

While scrolling through TikTok, you may have seen videos of a teenage boy asking his viewers if they would rate him as an HTN, an MTN, or an LTN. These acronyms stand for "high-tier normie," "mid-tier normie," and "low-tier normie," and they're part of a trend of ranking people by how "attractive" they are on the PSL scale. The PSL scale is flawed and problematic, but it's still a popular thing to rank your looks, even if you aren't part of the looksmaxxing community. We talked to aesthetics and looksmaxxing authority Austin Wayne to find out more about the meaning of HTN, MTN, and LTN, how the PSL scale works, and why looksmaxxers rate their attractiveness.

What do HTN, MTN & LTN mean?

Aesthetics and looksmaxxing authority Austin Wayne says that HTN, MTN & LTN are acronyms that describe people’s attractiveness levels.

• HTN (high-tier normie): Above average
• MTN (mid-tier normie): Average
• LTN (low-tier normie): Below average but can be improved through lifestyle and grooming

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Section 1 of 3:

HTN, MTN & LTN Slang Meaning

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1. 
   HTN, MTN, and LTN are acronyms for attractiveness ratings. “This system originated in online forums focused on dating and self-improvement, influenced by concepts of symmetry and sexual dimorphism,” explains Wayne. He provides definitions for HTN, MTN, and LTN, which are popular acronyms in the rating scale that was developed in this online group (known as the looxmaxxing community):

   • LTN = Low-tier normie: Wayne says this refers to someone below average but closer to the middle, who is highly improvable through lifestyle and grooming. Celebrity examples include Steve Buscemi and Michael Cera.
   • MTN = Mid-tier normie: This means average, which is where most people fall, says Wayne. Celebrity examples include reality television stars, like contestants on Love Island.
   • HTN = High-tier normie: This means above average with good structure and presentation, though not at an elite level, explains Wayne. Celebrity examples of high-tier include Timothee Chalamet and Gigi Hadid.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Austin Wayne

   Aesthetics and Looksmaxxing Authority

   Austin Wayne is an aesthetics and looksmaxxing authority. With 9 years of experience in fitness, aesthetics, and self-improvement, Austin is an ACE-certified personal trainer and professional male model. He combines industry knowledge with hands-on practice to help others achieve their best physique and lifestyle. In addition to his modeling career, he has built a strong online presence, creating content that shares insights on health, performance, and style with a global audience. In 2024, he officially launched his own looksmaxxing school, teaching people how to become more attractive, which has become one of the fastest-growing schools with over 500 students.

   

   Austin Wayne
   Aesthetics and Looksmaxxing Authority

   Looksmaxxing is about looking attractive to get more opportunities. It's scientifically proven that people who look more attractive get more job opportunities and make more money throughout their lives. They also tend to have more success at dating.
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Section 2 of 3:

PSL Scale in Looksmaxxing Explained

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1. 
   The PSL scale is a looksmaxxing attractiveness ranking system. The scale ranges from 1-8, with 1 being "subhuman," which is for people considered ugly. A person rated an 8 is a Chad or a Stacy, which is for people considered super hot. Looksmaxxers can either rate themselves or ask other people in their community to rate them (as demonstrated in this TikTok by @lacrossemaxxing). Here's an overview of the looksmaxxing rankings and the numbers they represent on the PSL scale.

   • <1: Subhuman or Sub-5 (ugly). Wayne says this means someone is noticeably below average, often due to weak facial structure, poor fitness, or grooming.
   • 1-3: Low-tier normal (less attractive than average)
   • 3.5-4.5: Mid-tier normal (attractive as average)
   • 5-6: High-tier normal (more attractive than average)
   • 6.5-7: Chadlites and Stacylites (model-level attractiveness). Wayne says people with these ratings are clearly attractive with strong features and presence.
   • 7.5-8: Chad/PSL God and Stacy (highest level of attractiveness). Wayne says this is the top tier, representing exceptional facial harmony and symmetry, often at a professional model level.
   • "PSL" stands for PUSHate, SlutHate, and Lookism, three popular looksmaxxing forums.

Section 3 of 3:

Why Looksmaxxers Rate Attractiveness

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1. 
   They rate their looks to improve them, as well to judge others. Looksmaxxers are always looking for ways to level up how attractive they are. Measuring their looks on the PSL scale helps them see where they could look even more attractive. It's also a way for them to compare and compete with each other. Lastly, it allows them to judge other people and make fun of them if they don't rank high on the PSL scale.

   • The PSL scale is highly flawed and subjective! It's also arbitrary, meaning it's made up and not based on any kind of hard science or evidence. It's important not to take it seriously, since it doesn't actually indicate whether you're attractive.
   • Wayne says that the rating system can be “useful as a reference for identifying realistic self-improvement goals,” but he cautions that “it becomes detrimental if used as a fixed label or to judge others.” He adds, “My own approach focuses on reaching one’s own potential rather than demeaning rankings.”
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