Beauty Or Brains? Which Would You Really Choose?

When asked this question, most will claim to want brains over looks, but if that's the case, why are there so many people famous for just looking good (think Kim Kardashian), while those behind the scenes inventing the next technological or scientific wonders of the world are hardly known by name in pop culture? Why are we so obsessed with beautiful celebrities, but not scholars?

Are we just kidding ourselves when we say we'd prefer to be smart? How about what we look for when choosing a mate? While many do look past pure physical traits when choosing a life partner (if they didn't, half the population wouldn't even exist!), the first question one will always ask in this instance is "how does he/she look?". Only after that concern is all other pertinent info sought.

Without a doubt, beauty has its advantages. Prettier people always seem to be more easily accepted and admired (at first), and in many cases, can trade on their looks to get themselves to a better position in life. But if you're not one of them, well, you might have to work just a bit harder. Not fair, but in many cases true.

One could argue that with intellect, one could figure out how to be successful enough and thereby make enough money to either buy better looks (to a degree), or just cancel out the need to look good altogether by excelling in their field (look at all the unattractive, highly successful folks with stunningly gorgeous mates), but if you were called upon to choose one and only one of these attributes, which would it really be?

Now, don't all of you go saying "brains!!". Some of you KNOW you'll be lying! ;)
We all want to appear to be of such high moral fiber that we will exclaim in a second that 'looks don't matter' to us, but if that were true, the plastic surgery industry wouldn't be generating the staggering amount of money that it does.

What's your true opinion?