Channing Tatum, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling (oh how I could go on) are some of the most undeniably attractive men in Hollywood. Women around the world swoon at the mere mention of these names. But, have you ever found yourself unexplainably attracted to someone who is, um, not so pretty (or even objectively ugly)? This is what I like to call the Ugly Sexy Paradox. Now, admittedly, attraction is not a purely physical reaction. But in fantastical situations (like the crushes we have on celebrities or their characters) you would think that the objectively hot would reign (a la Ian Somerhalder). But recently I have noticed myself drawn to some of these less attractive (yet ultimately sexy) men in Hollywood.
For example, my latest Ugly Sexy crush is Jeremy Allen White aka Lip on Shameless. Now if I saw him walking down the street, I don’t know that I would notice him (heck, I might even think he was unattractive). But there is something about his character that just draws me to him (I have support on this from some of my other Shameless fanatic friends). So how can someone seemingly unattractive (or average) be so down right sexy? And last time I checked, drug dealers, cheaters, and scam artists (all traits of Lip’s character) weren’t on the top of anybody’s list either. So what exactly is redeeming about him? Well, he’s freakishly smart, extremely loyal, and is vulnerable (even if it is to a sociopath like Karen). So I guess personality can win out over all else (who knew). But I think I have to argue for intangibles here as well. Sexy is just something you have, it’s a way of carrying yourself, a certain confidence that you have or you don’t, and Jeremy Allen White just has it in spades.
Jake Johnson aka Nick on New Girl is another culprit of the Ugly Sexy Paradox (although I would not deem him ugly, merely average). His character Nick has questionable hygiene, no real ambition, and is usually downright awkward (the panic moonwalk anybody?). But, again, there is something attractive, something sexy about him that makes you want to spend a day in Jess’s shoes.
On the other side of the coin is the most recent Bachelor, Sean Lowe. He is a very attractive man (over six foot with a six pack, HELLO). Sean is hot, but I do not find him sexy. Maybe it is the tabloid fodder about his regained virginity or his cringeworthy hip thrusts on Dancing with the Stars (sadly I tuned in). He has all the traits girls look for, he’s funny, caring, an all-around great guy, but he is just so…vanilla, and I guess I’m looking for something more rocky road.
So, who is your Ugly/Sexy crush? Do you agree that hot and sexy can be very different things? Guys, does this paradox happen to you too? Would you rather be considered hot or sexy?
Live Life Sassy 