Why Men Love Successful Women
Meryl Streep revealed something about men recently that really grabbed our attention. She said that out of all the characters she's played, the one guys say they like most is - wait for it - Miranda freaking Priestly, the power-hungry (to put it nicely) magazine boss in The Devil Wears Prada.
We know the coolest men have always loved challenging, confident women, but this shows just how important those traits have become to guys across the board these days. Sure, Miranda is the kind of chick who could shrink the manliest man's balls from 50 feet away, but that kind of badass attitude is what makes her so appealing to them.
Let's be clear: We're not saying your guy wants to do Miranda Priestly or have you act exactly like her - the woman was pretty cold. But doing things that tap in to her more desirable personality traits, like the stuff listed here, can improve your relationship with your guy. Guys aren't the only ones crushing on Meryl. Here's what your celeb girl crush means.
Give him something to think about.
We know you're already a ballsy, strong woman, so don't rein it in. "The reason men love that character is because she's never boring," says David Wexler, PhD, executive director of the Relationship Training Institute. "Being opinionated keeps a guy on his toes." Debating whether his new favorite band is really that awesome or disagreeing with him about something you both read in the news - those are the kinds of things that keep him mentally intrigued by you. "The key is to keep it a back-and-forth conversation: You share your views, and he shares his," says Wexler. "Otherwise, he'll start to feel like you're controlling, not challenging, him." Find out what he's secretly judging you on.
Related: 4 Traits Men Find Irresistible
Flaunt your ambition.
"To men, it's really sexy when a woman knows what she wants and goes after it," says Blazina. So talk to him about your plans to land a promotion or run a half marathon. Yeah, it's hot to watch you kick ass, but that kind of drive also indicates passion, which is incredibly alluring to a guy. "It lets him know that not only do you enjoy independence, but you're also the type of woman who will always make the most out of life," says Wexler. "And he wants to be a part of that." Beware of these work habits that will actually hurt you.
Related: Why Guys Hate Needy Women
Talk straight.
When Miranda Priestly didn't like something (or on the rare occasion when she did), everyone knew it - she didn't exactly beat around the Manolos. "Men are very direct when they communicate, and they appreciate a woman who speaks the same way," says Blazina. "They get frustrated when they feel like they have to interpret what you're really saying." That means when your guy does something to piss you off, tell him instead of pulling the "I'm fine" line. We're pretty sure that those two words weren't in Miranda's vocabulary…and they shouldn't be in yours either. Find out how you compare to 100,000 men and women in our Great Female Survey with Askmen.
Read more at Cosmopolitan.com!
What Men Think of Your Hair and Makeup
Words That Get You What You Want
Become a fan of Cosmo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
Want More Sex & Love Advice? Subscribe to Cosmo & Save up to 71%!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
