[bane]

I think this is a double edged sword. Anecdotal I've noticed that people who fit certain attractive ideals do rocket up the ladder faster, but seem to flame out (not burn out) faster.

Rather than attribute this to a "lights that burn twice as bright..." I think it can be attributed to being moved up into positions faster than their own competency is ready for.

Those few that can make it by competency and grit alone seem to be the ones that do last up into the higher ranks.

Ask yourself this, how many male fortune-500 CEOs could be thought of as extremely good looking.

A second anecdote: I used to spend a great deal of time working with the military, and the running joke was that Lt. Colonels and Colonels all seemed to be 6'1", while the Generals above them were all very short.