We Asked Men Who Is Peak Male Attractiveness—Here’s What They Said

Look, we know that women have a lot of opinions about male hotness. Some women will die on the hill of their man being over six feet, while others insist he has six-pack abs, while others swoon over emotive, captivating eyes. 

But do men care as much as women seem to about their sex’s appearance? When we talk about concepts like “male gaze” and “female gaze,” oftentimes you’ll hear people say that female beauty standards are actually set by the female gaze, with preferable, trendy beauty traits guided more by female intrasexual competition than a woman directly trying to impress a man.

With that in mind, where in the world did male beauty standards come from? Motivation to impress a potential mate? Motivation to outcompete another man? Women can hypothesize all we want about what we think men think about male attractiveness, but since we cannot change our chromosomes, we’re left wondering how men determine what they find most attractive for their own sex. 

I got curious and asked countless men what their standard for peak male attractiveness looks like or if there’s a particular celebrity or public figure they can point to. Along the way, I learned some fascinating (and somewhat shocking) insights about the inner workings of the male brain.

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Glen Powell

Texas native Glen Powell has been making waves in Hollywood as of late. After acting in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick as “Hangman,” the mid-30s actor took a lead role in the 2023 rom-com Anyone But You and the 2024 blockbuster Twisters. 

Powell is currently thought to be 6’1” and 190 lbs, and one of his most defining physical features is undoubtedly his striking green eyes. He’s poised to become one of Hollywood’s biggest names, and he has captured the hearts of many an onlooking fan. Yes, even chronic “dog moms” now fangirl over Powell when he brings his pup Brisket to the red carpet.

Almost every guy I spoke to referenced Glen Powell as epitomizing peak male attractiveness…but a couple of them were skeptical of him based on his hotness.

“If it’s just physical [attractiveness], then Glen Powell and all the other ripped guys,” said one male respondent about who he thought embodies peak male attractiveness. “But, it’s the heart that matters the most.”