The word telegenic refers to someone or something that appears particularly attractive, engaging, or well-suited for television or the screen. It combines "television" with a form meaning "producing," and points to presence that translates strongly through the camera.

Telegenic appeal is not only about conventional beauty. It can include expressive timing, clarity of gesture, emotional readability, and a natural ease that survives framing, lighting, and close-up. In contemporary media, the term extends beyond television to creators whose on-camera presence lands immediately across digital platforms.