The Dalai Lama wants his female successor to be 'very, very attractive' — otherwise she's 'not much use'

(Image credit: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

published 23 September 2015

The Dalai Lama only has one requirement for his successor, should she be female: "Her face should be very, very attractive." In an interview with the BBC earlier this week, the spiritual leader, who calls himself a feminist, was prompted to revisit a comment he made over a decade ago to a French journalist in which he called for the next Dalai Lama to be a woman because women have a greater "'biological' capacity 'to show affection... compassion,'" The Independent reports.

While he still believes that women should "take a more important role," he went on to add an additional prerequisite for the job. "If a female does come her face should be very, very attractive," the Dalai Lama recalled telling the French journalist over 10 years ago. The BBC interviewer pressed him: "So you can only have a female Dalai Lama if they're attractive? Is that what you're saying?" The Dalai Lama responded in the affirmative. "Otherwise," he said, "not much use."