Top 10 Male Models

BY: Andy Shoulders

Last week we showed you our top female models of the moment, and this week it’s the boys’ turn! Check our swoon-worthy top male models below.

ALTON MASON

Hailing from Nebraska, Alton Mason got his big break when uber-choreographer Laurieann Gibson (also his godmother) cast him as a backup dancer for Diddy at the 2015 BET Awards. Soon after, he was signed by a model agency and started gaining a huge amount of traction on Instagram. He started popping up on several major runways, and he even became the first black male model to walk for Chanel. Last year, both GQ Australia and Models.com named him Male Model of the Year.

JORDAN BARRETT

Fashion’s current “bad boy” Jordan Barrett was discovered by a modeling scout when he was just 13 years old. With a face reminiscent of River Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio, Barrett has been called “the face of a generation” and has modeled for every major brand from Moschino to Versace.

LUCKY BLUE SMITH

You’ve probably heard his name before, and it’s a hard name to forget. Lucky Blue Smith was scouted when he was just ten years old and was signed to an international modeling agency by the age of twelve. He gained attention (and a signature look) after dying his hair that now-famous platinum blond. He was “lucky” enough to appear in Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer 2016 fashion video with Lady Gaga, and if you’re wondering which other designers he’s modeled/walked for, the answer is pretty much “yes.”

ALPHA DIA

Those CHEEKBONES! Seemingly sculpted by the gods themselves, Alpha Dia has taken the fashion world by storm. In 2017 alone, he walked 43 runways. He was discovered in Hamburg, Germany, and since then, he’s been featured in several history-making projects, including 2018’s Pirelli calendar featuring an all-black cast. He’s also a huge anti-racism advocate and has worked tirelessly to bring increased attention to models of color.

ERIK VAN GILS

Born in Curacao but a Netherlands native, Erik Van Gils has appeared in magazines from GQ France to Hercules, and has appeared in campaigns for Tom Ford, MCM, and Massimo Dutti. He also landed the cover and cover story for GQ Turkey’s Summer 2018 edition. He started making waves in the fashion industry in 2014 when he was just 18, and now at 24, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

FERNANDO CABRAL

We were first introduced to Fernando Cabral in 2010, when he appeared in a holiday ad campaign for H&M. Things took off from there, and he has become a runway favorite of John Varvatos and Missoni. He has also fronted several campaigns (Balmain, Benetton, and Forever 21 to name a few), which in the modeling world is where one truly hits the jackpot. With features like his, Cabral’s strength lies in his editorial work. Some of his best images can be seen in 2013’s “Unspoken” editorial for Hunter Magazine and and 2015’s “Las Cole” in El Pais Icon Magazine.

ZHENGYANG ZHANG

Dubbed 2017’s Breakout Male Model of the Year in 2017 by W Magazine, Zhengyang Zhang has a look that is so strong, you almost forget to look at the clothes he’s wearing. Photographer Steven Meisel plucked him out of the crowd at an Anna Sui casting in 2016, and he’s walked every show for her since. Zhang isn’t just a model, however. He’s been training in traditional Chinese dance for over ten years, which makes sense when you see how beautifully he moves in front of the camera.

FINNLAY DAVIS

Irish model Finnlay Davis walked more runways than any other male model during 2018’s Spring/Summer season, and has logged the most runways walked of any male model since 2015. He was scouted on the tube in London, and ever since, he’s obviously kept quite busy. In addition to all of the miles walked on catwalks around the globe, Davis has also fronted campaigns for Prada and Coach.

JIN DACHUAN

Jin Dachuan first started appearing on runways in 2013, when he walked for top brands such as Kenzo and Opening Ceremony. From there, demand for Dachuan grew, and by 2014 he had appeared in major magazines from Harper’s Bazaar China to Esquire. A major milestone came when he graced the cover of GQ China that same year.

FRANCISCO LACHOWSKI

Francisco Lachowski’s big break came in 2008 when he won the Ford Men’s Supermodel of the Year contest in São Paulo. He was awarded a contract with Ford Models, and he soon began walking for every major designer from Thierry Mugler to Roberto Cavalli. Campaigns for DSquared, Lacoste, and Etro soon followed, and in 2015, Models.com included Lachowski on its “Industry Icons” and “Sexiest Men” lists.