Why are people so obsessed with looks theses days ?

I mean, lets face it, most people look pretty average. Ok, so when people are in their twenties they can bask in the brief bloom of youth but as you grow older unless you have the basic bone structure you are going to look pretty plain. So why this obsession with looks. Why do you have basically plain women saying things like ' oh, George Clooney ( as an example ) is so my type ' when it is manifestly obvious that they are very far from being his type. Then again you have spotty little herbert guys guys lusting after centre fold models they have no hope of aspiring to ( unless they make several $ million of course ) !! Why don't people ease up and stop stressing about looks they haven't got anyway ?