{"id":394562,"date":"2026-04-16T03:29:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T03:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/394562\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T03:29:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T03:29:14","slug":"why-young-men-are-chasing-extreme-beauty-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/394562\/","title":{"rendered":"why young men are chasing extreme beauty standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent months, Haifa-based content creator Tom Abraham has gained attention as a guru of the carnivore diet. His popular TikTok account, with nearly 40,000 followers, promotes eating raw meat as part of a \u201cnatural\u201d lifestyle he says improves his appearance. But he is not stopping there. Abraham actively encourages the trend among his followers, most of them teenage boys.<\/p>\n

Abraham, 27, is part of the looksmaxxing subculture, which has taken shape in recent years among young men worldwide. With a chiseled jaw, lean muscular body, thick eyebrows and full hair, he describes himself as a \u201clooksmaxxer.\u201d On the website he founded, \u201cLooksmaxxing Academy Israel,\u201d he charges $24 a month to teach young men \u201chow to grow taller naturally, improve dating life and reach peak health,\u201d according to the ad.<\/p>\n

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Besides handing out raw steaks to passersby, Abraham advises teenage boys and young men on how to look better, or at least more like him. \u201cDo you have a girlfriend, bro?\u201d he asks a teen at Tel Aviv\u2019s Savidor Central train station, who answers ‘No’. \u201cSo let\u2019s change that a bit,\u201d Abraham replies, adding, \u201cYour appearance is critical for attracting women,\u201d and suggesting dietary changes to clear acne.<\/p>\n

In another video, he tells two teens to improve their look by shaping their eyebrows and \u201csleeping better\u201d to avoid dark circles. In nearly every video, he stresses the importance of low body fat, a practice he follows himself. It is important to note that Abraham is not a licensed nutritionist or professional, and the \u201ctips\u201d he shares are based solely on his personal experience. For many teens, that is enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in appearance and health. Usually, a healthy person looks better than someone who isn\u2019t,\u201d he told Ynet in an interview. \u201cI was exposed to looksmaxxing in junior high school, more than a decade ago, through YouTube videos from abroad. I learned about male hygiene, grooming eyebrows, smelling good and so on. In recent years, I took it more seriously, and now I teach others.\u201d<\/p>\n

What drew you to it? Was it the desire to look better?
\n\u201cI\u2019m not sure, because as a kid I looked good. I think it comes down to the word itself. I wanted to see how far I could reach, not to do things halfway. If I want to look good, I want to take it as far as possible. There\u2019s a reason the phenomenon has become extreme. The world today is much more competitive than before. In the past, women met men from the neighborhood or through friends. Today, it\u2019s through social media, and you\u2019re competing for attention with men from all over the world. Standards are very, very high.\u201d<\/p>\n

You mean competition on dating apps?
\n\u201cYes. On Tinder, for example, you compete first of all on looks. Appearance is the most important thing. You\u2019re judged by it. If you\u2019re overweight, people assume you lack discipline or you smell worse than someone with a low, \u2018ideal\u2019 body fat percentage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did it start for you with rejection from girls?
\n(Silence.)<\/p>\n

Sorry if that was too direct.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re the first to ask that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI started pushing it more intensely in recent years after realizing how much it affects the way people treat me, not just in dating. If I look good, more opportunities will come my way because people will assume I\u2019m a better person. A few years ago, there was that story about a good-looking criminal who was in prison, and the moment he got out, modeling agencies rushed to sign him”, he says, referring to Jeremy Meeks, dubbed the \u201cworld\u2019s hottest felon.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tom Abraham\u2019s physical transformation<\/p>\n

(Photo: self-photo)<\/p>\n

To achieve his look, Abraham maintains low body fat, enhances his eyebrows and lashes with mascara, uses minoxidil for hair growth and eats raw meat, which he says improves his appearance. \u201cI haven\u2019t done more aggressive things,\u201d he said. \u201cI always explain that procedures like jaw surgery or cheekbone sculpting should only be done if they would significantly change your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explain.
\n\u201cIf someone has an underdeveloped jaw that noticeably affects their appearance, surgery can raise their attractiveness considerably.\u201d<\/p>\n

In women\u2019s eyes?
\n\u201cNot only. It signals health and attractiveness. When a woman looks at a man, she sees his genes. If he\u2019s tall and strong, she believes he can protect her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you think your appearance affects your confidence?
\n\u201cTwo hundred percent. When I look good and smell good, I feel that way inside too. You get immediate positive feedback. If someone drops to a low body fat percentage and their face becomes more defined, they get positive reactions. If they used to approach women and get rejected, and then suddenly succeed after a major change, that\u2019s where the confidence comes from.\u201d<\/p>\n

And what if it still doesn\u2019t work?
\n\u201cAppearance opens the door and you\u2019re no longer invisible. Then status, money and other factors come in. Every woman has her own \u2018good enough\u2019 threshold, and if you don\u2019t meet it, you\u2019re invisible to her. Women rule you out from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new micro-celebrities of male adolescence are no longer rappers or soccer players but lean young men livestreaming facial procedures. Looksmaxxing emerged in online male forums in the 2010s and has since moved into mainstream social media.<\/p>\n

Unlike the \u201cmetrosexual\u201d trend of the early 2000s, looksmaxxing promotes a more radical idea of self-improvement focused solely on appearance. Beauty is framed not just as an advantage but as social currency that can be systematically maximized through grooming, fitness, fashion and sometimes surgical procedures.<\/p>\n

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A model for the looksmaxxing beauty ideal: Sean O\u2019Pry<\/p>\n

(Photo: Roy Rochlin2018 \/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The difference between a \u201cmetrosexual\u201d and a \u201clooksmaxxer\u201d is less about appearance and more about worldview. The former describes an urban, consumer-driven aesthetic identity. The latter operates in a competitive, metrics-driven online culture where looks are treated as capital.<\/p>\n

Beauty ideals in this space often center on models like Sean O\u2019Pry, Jordan Barrett and Francisco (Chico) Lachowski, who share a similar aesthetic: sharp jawlines, smooth skin, lean muscular bodies and thick hair and a complexion that signals success. The three feature prominently on inspiration boards for many men who admire them, as also seen in the British Channel 4 documentary \u201cThe Toxic World of Perfect Looks: UNTOLD.\u201d<\/p>\n

While participants present looksmaxxing as empowerment and a path to confidence and success, critics point to risks: declining self-esteem, internalization of rigid beauty hierarchies and spillover into toxic online cultures, including incel communities (Involuntary Celibacy, men who struggle to form romantic or sexual relationships with women and often express frustration and extreme views that can lead to misogyny).<\/p>\n

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A defined jawline and hairless face: model Francisco Lachowski<\/p>\n

(Photo: Cindy Ord\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cLooksmaxxing is about improving your appearance to the highest level possible,\u201d said Dean Robertson, founder of Looksmaxxing.com, which has about 70,000 members. \u201cWhat\u2019s changed is that now it has a name, a shared language and a large online community. It\u2019s no longer just a trend.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do you view the responsibility of a platform like yours, especially when dealing with issues related to the body, health and self-image?
\n\u201cThere is responsibility, and I take it seriously. Appearance is a sensitive topic, and the audience tends to be young. We try to limit harmful content and encourage a healthier approach, focusing on what can realistically be improved and accepting what cannot, without letting the pursuit turn into an obsession. That said, no forum is perfect, and we try to maintain balance.”<\/p>\n

Critics of looksmaxxing argue that its beauty ideals draw from incel communities or problematic gender narratives.
\n\u201cThere is some historical overlap in online origins. The term \u2018looksmaxxing\u2019 did first appear in early incel forums, so I won\u2019t pretend there\u2019s no connection. But the mindset today is fundamentally different. Incel culture is rooted in fatalism, the belief that nothing can change and outcomes are determined by genetics. Looksmaxxing, as it is more broadly practiced today, is based on optimization: you can\u2019t change everything, but you can significantly improve certain aspects of your appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is it a confidence-building tool or something that can also create insecurity?
\n\u201cIt can be both. For many, it\u2019s positive, building discipline, improving habits and boosting confidence through measurable progress. Based on my personal experience, the changes I made had a significant and positive impact on my life, especially when it comes to relationships and self-confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

“But for younger users, it can lead to overanalyzing appearance and increased insecurity. When you combine a young age, social media and constant comparison, that risk exists in almost any self-improvement space. That\u2019s why I strongly believe people should focus on what they can actually change, rather than becoming obsessed with what they can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is tempting to frame the phenomenon as a subculture, with its own style, community, jargon and lifestyle that bind its members. Most young teens emulate the community\u2019s influencers, known as \u201cChads,\u201d men seen as the ultimate ideal of beauty and masculinity. The hierarchical nature of online spaces also drives many young men to purchase self-improvement packages for dozens of dollars a month, offering guidance on diet, clothing and more.<\/p>\n

Although the term \u201clooksmaxxing\u201d has developed under the radar for more than a decade, it is now gaining momentum on social media platforms like TikTok and through documentaries, including Louis Theroux\u2019s film Inside the Manosphere, where the topic has resurfaced on Netflix. This is not just a grooming trend but a reflection of the digital age among young men, roughly ages 14 to 30, where identity and self-worth are increasingly measured by appearance alone.<\/p>\n

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Harrison Sullivan and Louis Theroux in \u201cInside the Manosphere\u201d<\/p>\n

(Photo: Courtesy of Netflix)<\/p>\n

The movement has its own language, which plays a significant role in understanding how members of the group interact. The \u201cblack pill\u201d refers to a deterministic belief that genetics largely dictates success in dating and social life and creates a pessimistic narrative for those seen as lower in the aesthetic hierarchy. Terms like \u201cmog\u201d (asserting visual dominance) or “Y-pilled” (identifying with a dominant ideal of masculinity), reflect the competitive, hierarchical nature of the discourse, where appearance is not just personal but becomes a form of power, comparison and social control.<\/p>\n

Alongside the promise of self-improvement, this subculture amplifies feelings of inadequacy and constant competition, sometimes pushing young people toward unattainable standards such as limb-lengthening surgery to appear taller or breaking jaw and cheekbones in an attempt to reshape them. Just search the hashtag #bonesmashing on social media.<\/p>\n

One of the figures associated with the trend is Clavicular, the online alias of Braden Eric Peters, an American streamer and influencer born in 2005 who has gained wide attention online, with more than half a million Instagram followers and nearly 900,000 on TikTok. He is considered a controversial figure for promoting facial bone-breaking on social media, yet fashion brands have still partnered with him for sponsored content and invited him to walk in their shows.<\/p>\n

Clavicular\u2019s Instagram page, the alias of Braden Eric Peters<\/p>\n

Clavicular models in a fashion show<\/p>\n

Another online figure in the looksmaxxing space is British influencer Austin Wayne, who resembles a Western K-pop star. The content he shares with his hundreds of thousands of followers is minimal, mostly photos showcasing his lean, muscular physique alongside musings about money and relationships with women. On his Instagram page, he promotes discreet height-increasing shoes for men looking to add about three inches without it being noticeable.<\/p>\n

Austin Wayne shows off his physique on Instagram<\/p>\n

More than a cultural phenomenon, looksmaxxing is also a commercial arena, where men persuade other men to buy products, undergo invasive treatments, promising better lives through improved looks.<\/p>\n

What has long existed among women as part of the \u201cbeauty myth\u201d is now being aggressively adapted for men, with a distinction between \u201csoft maxing\u201d and \u201chard maxing.\u201d The former refers to changes such as fitness, grooming, haircuts and facial exercises to enhance the jawline, while the latter involves far more extreme measures, from medical procedures to radical attempts at reshaping the body.<\/p>\n

Looksmaxxing figure Johan Drumev<\/p>\n

The popular \u201cmewing\u201d technique is named after orthodontist Dr. Mike Mew, who developed the method of pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth to shape and define the jawline. Mew argued that modern life, including processed foods, mouth breathing and poor posture, negatively affects facial and skull development.<\/p>\n

A lecture he gave on orthotropics, palate expansion and maintaining lip closure was uploaded to YouTube about seven years ago. Incel communities picked it up, dubbed the practice \u201cmewing\u201d and spread it online, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting the theory.<\/p>\n

Alongside these exercises, including facial yoga, plastic surgeons say that in recent years more men have been seeking aesthetic treatments. The options include breast reduction, removal of excess skin after significant weight loss, eyelid surgery, brow lifts, jawline contouring and facelifts.<\/p>\n

Prof. Eyal Winkler, an expert in aesthetics and plastic surgery, says the men seeking treatment tend to fall into two groups: younger men looking to sculpt their cheekbones and jawlines, and older men aiming to refresh their appearance, some in a second chapter of life alongside younger partners.<\/p>\n

This is not a fringe trend on social media but a deeper shift among young men. \u201cIf in the past men were expected to be strong and successful, today how a man looks has become far more important,\u201d said Prof. Winkler. \u201cDating often begins and ends with a swipe. You get one chance, and it\u2019s only through a photo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Critics argue the darker side lies in the belief that bone structure determines destiny, leaving those who feel genetically disadvantaged to either alter their bodies or accept social invisibility. Dating apps are seen as arenas where looks alone determine success, with social hierarchies shaped by facial features, especially the jawline. The result is a troubling culture in which a person\u2019s value and opportunities are judged largely by appearance.<\/p>\n

At the same time, these young men can be seen as radical figures seeking to challenge the genetics they were born with and push back against the limits of human evolution. \u201cHumans have always been concerned with their appearance and have gone through various processes, from neck elongation with rings to plastic surgery in the Western world,\u201d explains Shay Shpitzen, a clinical social worker and sex and couples therapist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis phenomenon doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be viewed negatively. It\u2019s simply human,\u201d he says, urging a more compassionate perspective. \u201cWith the welcome rise of gender equality and feminism, expectations of men have also increased. Many of them, I think, feel powerless or disadvantaged. The demands on them are growing, including in the realm of appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it doesn\u2019t stop at skincare or hair removal.
\n\u201cMany of the men drawn to looksmaxxing want to increase their chances of success with women. It may come from a place of trying to boost self-worth through what\u2019s known as \u2018body count,\u2019\u201d he says, referring to the number of sexual partners a person has had. \u201cBut from my experience with people in therapy, it\u2019s also a way for businesses and influencers to exploit these men, feeding them the idea that this is what will solve their problems with women.\u201d<\/p>\n

These men argue that appearance also boosts their Sexual Market Value, or overall attractiveness. From your experience, does it actually affect how people experience attraction and relationships?
\n\u201cThey\u2019re not entirely wrong. A well-groomed or good-looking man will generally have more success with women. It depends on the subculture you\u2019re in, your age and what kind of women you\u2019re trying to attract. I\u2019d say in your 20s, for casual sex, it may be more relevant, but in reality, most men are looking for closeness and a relationship. Their appearance won\u2019t solve deeper issues. You can\u2019t look perfect all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he cautions against seeing appearance as a cure-all. \u201cMany of these men want to increase their success with women. But improving your looks won\u2019t solve deeper issues. You can\u2019t look perfect all the time. <\/p>\n

\u201cSecond, when self-worth is lacking, then yes, you may look a bit better and even feel better, but in practice you still see the world as a place of victims and aggressors, and your appearance won\u2019t change that. In other words, you accept that as reality instead of saying: these aren\u2019t the kind of women or relationships I\u2019m looking for, and I\u2019d rather be valued for who I am or what I bring to a relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cOften it can create a momentary high of self-satisfaction or even change how women perceive you, but the underlying sense of emptiness and the fear of approaching women don\u2019t always go away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have you ever suggested to a patient that they change their appearance?
\n\u201cI might point out to someone that they\u2019re neglecting their appearance, usually in response to a question, but I don\u2019t have expertise in aesthetics, and I don\u2019t see that as part of my therapeutic role.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In recent months, Haifa-based content creator Tom Abraham has gained attention as a guru of the carnivore diet.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":394563,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[163,85,46,522,523],"class_list":["post-394562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mental-health","tag-health","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-mental-health","tag-mentalhealth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=394562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/394563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=394562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=394562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=394562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}