CW, our mob's selection is done by the company's P&O people together with those from our cabin crew department. (Male and Female) This produces anything from the not-very-bright to qualified MD's in the ranks.
What most of us have in common is a sense of humour, the willingness to treat pax like people instead of dumb cattle and a genuine interest in doing the best job possible under often trying circumstances.
We have straight & gay men and women, all skin colours found on the face of the earth, and it is a very workable and enoyable mix.
Looks? Mixed as well
Bums on seats, to further illustrate your point; my best FA friend is a qualified psychiatric nurse who works 50% in both jobs. A most exellent FA, tireless, ever unruffled and able to deal with
anything seated in either cabin or cockpit
Seriously, more training in both self defense and psychiatry would be a very good thing IMHO.