What does it take to be an underwear model — Perfect abs? Smoldering eyes? Unblemished skin? Hours of photoshopping?
No, no, no no. All it takes is feeling confident wearing next to nothing. Last year, The Sun recreated designer underwear photos, with normal guys swapped out for the models. And the result was that the regular guys came out looking as sexy — if not sexier — than the perfectly-coiffed, untouchable professionals.
In that spirit, Queerty rounded up a few great regular guys who were willing to take off their clothes for our camera. Our friends at Andrew Christian very awesomely sent us underwear samples to outfit our men, and here are the results.
So what do you think? Do you prefer the original models, or the regular guys? Who do you relate to?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And should we continue this little project with more photos? We’d love to shoot some more of these, with another group of natural, diverse guys.
That’s Murray Swanby on the left, and Cucci Binaca on the right, whom you may recognize from Seattle’s rich drag scene.
That’s Daddy Griff on the right, aka Seattle Leather Daddy 2015. He could easily have hoisted larger weights but those were the biggest ones we had!
And here’s more of Griff. In this shot, he’s displaying a range of actions, while we experience one very specific action in our loins.
Mike stands in for a priest from a particularly sacrilegious Andrew Christian video.
Ruff ruff. Pup Growlex shows a little cheek.
And here’s Growlex out of his mask, and in his harness as Lex Antoine.
Here’s Zakaria Ibrahimi, showing off some brand new ink on his neck. If you like that, you should see his instagram.
Lari brings a bit more color to the original pose, both in his undies and on his skin.
OK, one more of Cucci. Mmm!
Like what you see? Want to see more real guys in sexy undies? Like this post, and we’ll turn this into a regular feature.
grahambower
“Real,” “regular,” and “normal.”
I always feel uneasy about these words. Who gets to decide what’s normal?
newfoundma
Real guys apparently are white and don’t have body hair.
NoCagada
@newfoundma: You didn’t get the memo?
audo_r
While the goal is probably to say that most (gay) men don’t look like the guys in model ads, one of the major social problems we have is this idea that there is specific look for a “normal”, “regular”, or “real” gay man. These kind of ‘articles’ – I use that word loosely – are part of the problem.
audo_r
*kinds
hybris
Probably with the exception of a couple of those pictures, most of those men’s bodies weren’t enhanced via Photoshop.
The bodies the models have, were good, but weren’t unachievable by someone with average health. A lot of people like to claim having a good body is all genetics and that is true if your goal is to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s. But if you just want to have some definition and a flat stomach (perhaps a six-pack) ANYONE in average health can achieve that with working out four to five days a week and a very strict diet that tracks carbs, proteins, and fats (I recommend 40%, 35%, and 25% respectively).
So perhaps this article should be titled “What Gay Men Who Don’t Have a Desire to Be in Great Shape Look Like in Underwear Ads.”
I always like to say, “if it was easy, then everyone would do it.” But please don’t use the word “normal” as meaning unattainable. Anyone can have the bodies of those models, it just isn’t easy and takes some time, dedication, and work.
Wagner Wallace
A lot of the “real guys” look better than the “models”.
Random question – are Andrew Christian models paid, or do they just get free undies & drink vouchers for bars in West Hollywood?
Alton
I’ll take the models, thanks.
Joseph
Apparently, because I don’t have tattoos, I’m not a “real, regular, ordinary” gay man. I guess that makes me a rebel.
AllenSF
@Alton: I am with you there! My BF looks more like the “models” me not so much.
KiDAciDic
Ehhh god the desperate high school id of gay men on display again. Everyone KNOWS that models of ANY orientation arent the average jack or jane you find off the street. If they didnt look the way they did there would be no need for fashion ads, campaigns ect. because, hey, this is for the anybody. Its a harsh reality for like, a 15 year old but once you’ve grown up and understand that looks are pretty much just means to sell a product you can go on and either join that system or cultivate yourself as an educated, healthy, well rounded person without railing against the system as some abnormality. Theres zero point in comparing yourself to someone who trains, eats, sleeps and grooms to take pictures for their living (or part of it) when that’s something you dont want to do.
Jonty Coppersmith
I don’t buy into the idea that a guy has to have a flat belly, a six pack, and bulging biceps in order to be attractive. Having said that, in these cases the models look better. That is largely because I have an aversion to tattoos. No offense intended to anyone who loves his ink, but one of those “real” guys just looks freaky.
Publius
@grahambower:
“Who gets to decide what’s normal?”
Statistics?
grahambower
Statistics can give you an average, but that’s not the same as “normal”. Normal is a subjective, culturally charged term.
Publius
@hybris:
“ANYONE in average health can achieve that with working out four to five days a week and a very strict diet that tracks carbs, proteins, and fats (I recommend 40%, 35%, and 25% respectively).”
Who the fuck has time for that, or wants to so severely limit their diet? Keep your abs, I’ll keep my cheesecake and hamburgers.
JAWIWA
So there are no “real” guys who are Black or Asian, Queerty?
lauraspencer
I don’t find any of these men appealing. If that is the best they can come up with for “models” then I guess every 4th guy I walk past on the street should model.
jwtraveler
None of the “real guys” I know has a pierced nose, a Mohawk, tattooed head or neck or wears a dog mask. But I do know some “real guys” who are fat, thin, tall, short, black, brown, Asian and/or over 40. I guess everyone has his own idea of what a “real guy” is.
barkomatic
Many of the “real” guys are attractive. However, all things being equal the models look better.
odawg
@newfoundma: LOL! So true!
stanhope
@newfoundma: didn’t you know, people of color aren’t sexy around these parts.
stanhope
@stanhope: I forgot to add…which is why you are always going to see Tom Daly and Dustin Lance Black celebrated as the second coming [until Dustin drops him for a younger number] than the far, far more sexy Michael Sam/Vito Cammisano.
jockjack5
@Joseph:
LOL!
I don’t have any Tats either.
They’re fugly.
jockjack5
Doesn’t anyone choose NOT to have a tattoo these days?
And what’s with all the S&M imagery?
Geez!
Very few of these guys look “normal” to me; sort of on the freaky side.
At least the article didn’t mention anything about straight guys for a change.
Ogre Magi
All of them (except for the guy in the dog mask) look pretty doable
frshmn
I like how the models are more diverse than the “real guys” lolol
addisondlls
I’ll take the guys on the right! There’s always going to be a need for models, there’s nothing wrong with that. I just prefer the guys on the right!
bufffuzz
In this social media world, regular, real, and amateur are terms, I have found, describe some really hot men. Real guys are super hot. They don’t know, or even come across knowing it, but that’s their real hotness. Great article.
Bighorner
Haha this reminds me of Meghan Trainor’s “All About the Bass” song. The only people that would agree that these “normal” dudes look better are less-than-attractive guys, because it totally validates them.
Flabby is not sexy, and if you’re going to be flabby, at least don’t be hairless. Cucci looks like a little fat boy, which might appeal to the pedos.
Zakaria is just freakin scary looking. He looks like some freakin coke head.
Lari is probably the only attractive guy.
Again…the only people who would say the normal guys look better are those that want to feel validated.
What’s next…small penises are better too?
Bighorner
@bufffuzz: I’m sorry, but you’re a bit delusional if you think attractive guys don’t know they’re attractive. We all know how much we’re worth based on how much people are willing to do to get us. This can be proven scientifically – people always try and choose for the best mate they can possibly get.
Bighorner
@Publius: That doesn’t change the truthfulness of his statement. Anyone who wants to can achieve that. You chose not to – which is fine, as it only affects you.
tarutan
Models ARE real guys too. Just because some people care more about their physique doesn’t make them fake. I assume the purpose of this article is to make guys feel more comfortable in their skin even if they aren’t well built. That is a self confidence issue. I’m a big big bear and I am happy with myself, not that I have any kind of fetish for being big, but I have been built like these models and I never was as happy with myself until I let go and focused on the things in my life that mattered to me like eating well, gaming, and being relaxed. Killing myself at the gym everyday was rewarding made me healthy and fit and feel good but it wasn’t me. There’s so many other things that give me joy in life that being ohysically in tip top condition and guess what even as a big guy I am healthy, I eat healthy and I have zero diabetes or health problems. It’s all about taking care of yourself not changing yourself. nibody can love you if you don’t love yourself.
slinky49
I find so much of this bit and its concept offensive and much of it has been addressed in the previous comments [some of which were as offensive as the article], but my primary objection is the main premise: that “[male] model” and “real guy” are opposites. Tiresome, at best, and stupid on the face of it [thanks, @tarutan for starting there]. It seems consistent, though, with Queerty’s seemingly endless fascination with the shallow end of the gay male cultural pool. It buys clicks and comments, I guess. Here am I and all of you, after all.
droptopbm8
Uh lmfaooooooo yikes!!! No the regular guys do not look better than the models… not even close they look awkward a model is a cut above the average person… or else we would all be models… Hilarious