Despite a common desire for physically attractive partners, people tend to end up with mates of a similar level of physical attractiveness to themselves. This study proposed an adaptive mate effort calibration system, whereby greater length of time without mating success (sexual/romantic drought) decreases the level of physical attractiveness deemed minimally acceptable in a mate, and increases attraction towards potential partners who display interest. Such a system would allow for an individual’s mate effort to be balanced between pursuing the most desirable attractive potential mates, and pursuing the potential mates with whom there is the greatest chance of mating success. Four hundred (200 female) participants took part in an online study. To manipulate display of interest, smiling and non-smiling photos of participant’s preferred sex were presented and rated for physical attractiveness and willingness-to-date. Sexual/romantic drought was measured via self-report of recent sexual and romantic activity. Two predictions were made: 1) Length of sexual/romantic drought will not affect ratings of physical attractiveness, but it will affect choosiness as measured by ‘willingness to date’, such that a longer drought is associated with willingness to date less attractive individuals. 2) Length of sexual/romantic drought will increase attraction to smiling (i.e. potentially interested) individuals, such that participants in a longer drought will show a greater differential between smiling and non-smiling photos in terms of attractiveness and willingness-to-date ratings. Both predictions were unsupported. However, a marginally significant interaction was consistent with the general theory of mate effort calibration; participants perceiving less sexual interest from the opposite-sex in day-to-day life were more willing-to-date individuals they found less physically attractive. Limitations of the present study and directions for future research are discussed.