I’m building my theory of why men overuse the word “cute” for girls, I think it feels like a safe, not too hyperbolic descriptor when they don’t want to ADMIT to being smitten
Yeah if cute is someone's type I'd expect them to be attracted to vulnerable-looking people who make you feel that need to protect. Often also physically small/petite, and acting with childlike energy/'naivety' (not a bad thing)