What attracts women?

I think that is not applicable to all women. But I would say that generally women are like that, most women. Women are sometimes unpredictable and our minds change often.

To my opinion, intellegence, good personality, good character, a head on their shoulders and financial stability is what atttracts women. I belive that to most women, looks comes in the end more thean the begining.

You're right when you said that women don't really know what they want unless they see it. This means that the "tall, dark and handsome" ideal of a man is not really usually met. It's obvious these days anyway. Women set ideals at first, then they discover that there's no such thing as an ideal man in the real world, so they go where the road lead them (to the arms of the men they encounter in their lifetime -- then they choose from them). Well, as to challenge, since I am a woman, I like to be challenged somehow. I don't like men who are too eager. Women in their right minds test the waters first before they leap. So, guys have to be up for the challenge!