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PHOTOS: Is ‘spornosexual’ the new ‘metrosexual’?

Spornosexual body builder flexing his back by the ocean with rocks in the background.

Metrosexual is out and spornosexual is in. At least that’s what Mark Simpson says.

In news that has succeeded in making me feel old, the term “metrosexual” is now over twenty years old. And Mark Simpson, who is credited with coining the word, says it won’t survive past its teenage years.

In an article for The Telegraph, Mark lays out his case for the evolution of the masculine ideal in popular culture, arguing that the wardrobe-conscious moisturized metrosexual is becoming a more body-conscious crossfit machine.

“Glossy magazines cultivated early metrosexuality. Celebrity culture then sent it into orbit. But for today’s generation, social media, selfies and porn are the major vectors of the male desire to be desired. They want to be wanted for their bodies, not their wardrobe. And certainly not their minds.”

He sees sports and porn as two major components in the current idealized man, citing people like David Beckham in the shift from coiffed to scruffed.

And thus his new term, spornosexual, is born.

Because you know, sports…and porn.

While I’m doubtful the word will catch on (stop trying to make spornosexual happen, it’s not going to happen), Simpson does lay out a compelling case for the shift in beauty and image standards.

“With their painstakingly pumped and chiselled bodies, muscle-enhancing tattoos, piercings, adorable beards and plunging necklines it’s eye-catchingly clear that second-generation metrosexuality is less about clothes than it was for the first.”

Can’t argue with you there.

Here’s some investigative photo evidence you can’t argue with either (Dan Osborne is apparently the David Beckham of spornosexuality):

Alright, we can’t help but acknowledge his undeniable cuteness… but seriously, is being spornosexual the next big trend? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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