Jonathan Bailey is the first openly gay ‘Sexiest Man Alive’

The tight pants wearing “Wicked” star earned the honour this year. But what other sexy queers should get the nod one day?

Get ready to shout “FIYERO!” from the rooftops: Jonathan Bailey is People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for 2025. 

The former Bridgerton star is the first openly queer man to be named “Sexiest Man Alive.” And there’s no doubt he deserves it. But it’s also wild that he’s the first gay man to get the nod in the 40 years People has been dolling it out. 

While the actual mechanics of who is named sexiest and why are not necessarily objective, it’s still a fun thought experiment to ponder what other gays have missed out over the yers. No love for Andrew Scott? Ricky Martin? You’re telling me that in 2024 John Krasinski was sexier than Colman Domingo?

We break down what you need to know, along with some other contenders for the crown to keep things queer in 2026.

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

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