I'm a man. Obviously I can't speak for all men, but I do believe Genie is a beautiful woman.
Laura, however, is not presented on this show as a sexual being. In her youth I'm sure she was, but that's not how she's written or even acted. Back in the 90s Laura was dressed in all kinds of frump wear. She was only in her 30s, but they wrote her as older. Still Luke was hungry for her. So was Stefan. So was Scotty. Stavros came back from the dead wanting her just as much as ever. The writing wrote her as appealing, even if wardrobe didn't dress her like that, and Genie didn't really play up the character's sexuality.
But, to be perfectly honest, Laura has always come off as more mature than her years. I don't think that's a bad thing, but it is a thing. It does affect how the writing team approaches your character. It affects what kinds of romances they envision you in.
The last time Genie was given a "hot" romance was in the late 90s with Stefan. Ever since then it's been periods of reunions with Luke, Scott and finally a new romance with Kevin. They have a nice, mature chemistry, but the writers didn't give them any real focus, and didn't play up their conflict, their spice. They do NOT write Anna or Alexis' romantic lives with such safety.
And, as always, safe is the death knell on a soap.
I will say this, as someone who likes Laura with Kevin. They should've wrote them with far more spice. Perhaps had Ryan Collins return and be an obstacle? Or delve back into Kevin's dark side?
Or perhaps they should've paired her with someone else. Valentin perhaps? But, sadly, they just don't see Laura as the one who gets to spice it up with Valentin, or Julian.
I actually thought Frank should've bought Tristan back and did a Robert and Laura romance.