Looksmaxxing turns faces and bodies into projects to measure, rank, and improve. In an article co-authored with Jordan Foster, published in The Conversation on March 19, 2026, we connect this pursuit to changing expectations of masculinity and the growing pressures of male beauty culture.
We examine how the body can become a seemingly controllable source of status when stable employment, home ownership, and long-term partnerships feel less attainable. The analysis also considers the racial and class hierarchies embedded in appearance rankings and the commercial interests that profit from insecurity.
The same essay was republished by The Tyee on March 24 and Katie Couric Media on April 15, 2026.
