“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Prince is a lush, romantic ballad released in February 1994 as the lead single from his 1997 EP, “The Beautiful Experience”. It was released under the symbol moniker (when he changed his name to an unpronounceable glyph), but make no mistake—this was pure Prince: sensual, emotional, and sonically unique. In 1995, it was included on his seventeenth album, The Gold Experience.
The song is a genuine declaration of love, with Prince expressing awe and devotion to someone he sees as the pinnacle of beauty—inside and out. Lines like
“Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world? / It’s plain to see you’re the reason that God made a girl”
are both grand and deeply personal, delivered with that unmistakable falsetto that’s equal parts intimacy and reverence.
Musically, it’s stripped down compared to his funkier, more experimental work. There’s a dreamy, floating quality to it—soft synths, subtle guitar, and layered harmonies that let the vocals shine. It’s delicate, even understated, which is part of what makes it so affecting.
The song was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 in several countries, including the UK and Australia, and peaking at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100—one of his biggest successes of the decade. It also topped the R&B charts and introduced a new generation to Prince’s romantic side.
Though released during a complicated time in his career—fighting with his label, changing his name, redefining his identity—”The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” cut through all that. It remains one of his most universally loved ballads, and a timeless love song that captures Prince at his most gentle and genuine.