The Pressure to Shine
While women have long navigated societal expectations about their looks, men are increasingly feeling the heat. The undeniable truth is that attractiveness
often correlates with better job prospects, higher earnings, and more romantic success. This has paved the way for 'looksmaxxing,' a digital-age movement where young men go to astonishing lengths to enhance their appearance. At its forefront is 'Clavicular,' a 20-year-old influencer who, under his real name Braden Peters, has garnered millions of likes on TikTok by showcasing his own 'ascension' – his term for visual enhancement – and guiding others through this process. He and other prominent 'lookmaxxers' use a unique lexicon, discussing 'mogging' (outperforming others in looks) and 'chads' (conventionally attractive men), often capitalizing on male insecurities. Reports suggest Clav alone can earn over $100,000 monthly from livestreams, with other influencers promoting apps designed to analyze faces and suggest improvements, further fueling this trend.
From Self-Care to Extremes
While basic grooming like regular washing, sufficient sleep, and exercise are undeniably beneficial for anyone, looksmaxxing ventures far beyond sensible self-care. Participants are reportedly resorting to extreme measures, including the use of Accutane for skin smoothing, meth to suppress appetite, and various substances for muscle growth. A particularly disturbing, albeit rare, practice involves 'bone smashing,' where individuals repeatedly strike their faces with a hammer. The erroneous belief driving this is that facial bones will regenerate stronger and reshaped. This dangerous pursuit highlights how the desire for physical perfection can devolve into harmful and even potentially life-altering actions, moving far beyond any sensible notion of personal grooming or health.
A Toxic Worldview
The roots of looksmaxxing are deeply entwined with a concerning ideology, originating from 'incel' (involuntary celibate) forums in the 2010s. Today, influencers blend pseudo-scientific jargon, like 'canthal tilt' referring to eye angle, with concepts from the 'red pill' community, promoting a cynical view of the world. This often manifests as overt prejudice; viral clips frequently show women being harassed, and one Black looksmaxxer was advised he needed to 'just be white' to be considered attractive. The personal troubles of influencers, like Clav's recent arrest on battery charges for allegedly instigating a fight between his girlfriend and another individual, mirror the negative impacts of the trend itself. Just as social media can negatively affect young women's self-perception, looksmaxxing seems to breed unhappiness and insecurity among men, with forum users lamenting their perceived lack of lovability and referring to their pre-looksmaxxing selves as 'subhuman'.
Mental and Physical Tolls
The relentless pursuit of an idealized appearance inherent in looksmaxxing can severely impact mental health, fostering feelings of self-loathing. The obsessive focus on exercise and calorie intake also carries the risk of developing eating disorders. Shockingly, a recent study of 1,500 boys and men in America and Canada revealed that over 20% met the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. Furthermore, muscle dysmorphia, often termed 'bigorexia,' is on the rise, according to Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician. Sufferers, predominantly males aged 15 to 32, constantly feel insufficiently muscular, leading to compulsive weightlifting and the potential use of steroids and other hazardous supplements. These conditions underscore the profound psychological and physiological damage that can result from this extreme focus on physical aesthetics.
The Illusion of Perfection
Beyond its detrimental effects, looksmaxxing is fundamentally misguided and ultimately pointless. Research conducted by The Economist and YouGov indicates that the majority of individuals attracted to men are largely indifferent to specific facial features like eye or jawline shape, with only 53% deeming facial symmetry important. Crucially, non-physical attributes such as kindness and a sense of humor are highly valued. The article suggests that if looksmaxxers invested the same energy into developing their intellect and personality as they do into altering their physical features, they would likely find greater and more enduring happiness in both their personal lives and their relationships.
