The way you look — the body that is yours — has several relatively permanent features that disclose information about you. As you take the platform to speak, listeners can observe your physical features and infer your sex, general age range, racial background, height, weight, and body type. Sometimes audiences respond to personal appearance in a fixed manner.As a result they may discount the messages given by speakers who are very much younger than themselves. Other audiences similarly pay less attention to the speeches of women or of people from other cultural groups.

Many people have one or more physical features or conditions that make them reluctant to speak publicly. These include crooked teeth, visible birthmarks, and above average or below average weight or height, poor eyesight, or the use of wheelchairs. Although it is true that people do see your features, it is generally not true that they spend the entire speech focusing on them. If you worry about your appearance, one of your best strategies is to have interesting topic and a good opening statement that draw people's attention to your subject rather than to your looks.

Regardless of your looks, you can pay special attention to your appearance such as dressing neatly, keeping your hair tidy, etc. ... Neatness and cleanliness are sometimes as significant as natural beauty; in fact, a common proverb, "Cleanliness is next to godliness," gives a very good example of this. Further, as we will see, social attractiveness is enhanced by other nonverbal variables such as smiling and gesturing appropriately.

Moreover, physical characteristics are not the only thing your listener see.The clothing, and accessories you choose are part of your total presentation of yourself.