By: Xiu Sun

What makes a perfect man? What does a handsome man look like? The standard of male beauty is continuously evolving as society progresses while embracing more diversity and acknowledging the importance of representation.

The idealized sculpted male shape has been adopted as the Western male beauty standard in the past few centuries. However, it has rarely mirrored the average man’s body.

Recently, larger men are being accepted as an alternative male beauty standard thanks to the platform that social media apps like TikTok provides. British model Ben James, a plus-sized model, took part in an advertising campaign for clothing brand Simply Be, which helped change the way we view the large sized men. James tells BBC Culture that his work “gives comfort and confidence to boys and men alike, it tells them that they are wanted, and they are worthy”. Maybe this is a sign of tolerance of the society.

The white male beauty standard is slowing changing. Black male beauty is gradually accepted as fashion because of recent social movements for more diversity. Black supermodels like Tyson Beckford and Alton Mason regularly step on the covers of GQ and other fashion magazines, which is evidence of the change.

The stereotypical muscular sculpture shaped male image is being challenged. Generation Z is denying muscularity, advocating androgyny, embracing unorthodox soft and feminine style, as shown by the boys in BTS with lively hair and make-up.

Despite the continuing success of the traditionally handsome man, the normal male beauty standard is loosening up. Older models have seen a significant rise in popularity.

With growing diversity, the conventional Mediterranean “tall, dark and handsome” type is still popular.

As the society evolves and progresses, the conventional and unconventional standard of male beauty keeps shifting and expanding, from sculpture shape to plus size, from white to black, from muscular to more feminine, from young to old.

Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1655669986296x451010595259704300/What%20does%20the%20%27perfect%20man%27%20look%20like%20now_%20-%20BBC%20Culture.pdf