What It Meant To Be A Man In 2025

In 2025, masculinity didn’t evolve so much as splinter. Men were ranked, aestheticised, therapised, sexualised and side-eyed—often all in the same scroll. Somewhere between being too much and not enough, being a man became less about identity and more about optics.

Here's what it meant to be a man in 2025.

RATED & RANKED

As if whac-a-mole became the internet’s favourite sport this year, men were categorised with dizzying speed not only as the now banal label of red flags or green flags, but as full-blown aura types.

Right at the top were the golden retriever boyfriends: Tom Holland with his soft sweetness, Travis Kelce with that big-hearted, cheer-you-on energy and the occasional honourary entry like Ryan Reynolds, who’s really more golden retriever husband at this point. Even on-screen characters like Jim Halpret resurfaced as wholesome boyfriends. Sunshine in human form, these types were loyal, goofy and always ready to listen as their girlfriends rode out every emotional rollercoaster.

Then came the black cat boyfriends: Krish Kapoor from Saiyaraa, all quiet intensity and unreadable eyes and a certain mysterious attractiveness; and Conrad Fisher from The Summer I Turned Pretty, brooding, distant, yet painfully magnetic.

If that wasn't enough, the next phase was total erasure, thanks in part to an essay questioning whether having a boyfriend in 2025 was embarrassing (answer: the internet said yes). On social media, men were cropped out, blurred or reduced to the back of a head or a lone hand in frame.

And somewhere in the conversation, the judgment spilled beyond plus-ones. Men written off for carrying tote bags, called out for curated softness and dragged into arguments about whether the whole act was performative.

So where do men go from here? At some point, all this ranking and labelling will feel too reductive to sustain. The pushback is coming.

THE OZEMPIC GLOW-UP

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro were once whispered about in elite circles and framed largely as a women’s fix. But by 2025, men had entered the movement—loudly—sparking a seismic shift in male body-image expectations. Sudden transformations and relentless before–after posts flooded social feeds, recasting the ideal from the classic “gym-bro” bulk to a leaner, sharper, almost androgynous silhouette that looked effortless but demanded its own form of discipline.

It became one of the most dramatic rewrites of modern masculinity: a new aesthetic code that reshaped how men saw, measured and sculpted themselves.

Experts point to perfectionism, rising anxiety and a culture where muscle is no longer the goal but the baseline—

pushing many toward pharmaceuticals, from steroids to GLP-1s, even as questions around sustainability, side effects and long-term mental health loom large. Therapists note that men’s body-image battles are still knotted up in old ideas of power, dominance, and size—cycles that GLP-1s may shift physically but often intensify psychologically.

The real challenge—and opportunity—now lies in reframing strength, health and male self-worth beyond the mirror. In the end, the real evolution may be in learning that a man’s worth can’t be counted in kilos lost or muscle gained.

A MAGICAL CURE FOR MALE LONELINESS. OR IS IT A CURSE?

He has a new best friend. Bestie is around 24/7, never sighs, never judges and always has time to listen, whether it’s about a bad meeting at work or a bruised heart. Bestie offers advice, validation and the kind of steady companionship He hasn’t felt since the days he kicked around with his crew.

The only twist? Bestie doesn’t need anything back. No pep talks, no shoulder to lean on.

Because Bestie isn’t human. Bestie’s a bot. Men didn’t suddenly stop making real friends in 2025, but that’s when the conversation about male loneliness turned increasingly to their growing dependence on AI for connection, comfort and even romance.

You wonder, why is finding your “guys” so hard now? Because most male friendships are built on shared activities, not emotional intimacy. And when work, commuting and the daily grind took over, those aimless hangs were the first to go.

Being buddies with a bot is exactly the kind of low-effort convenience men gravitate toward; romancing one is an even quicker fix for the ego. It’s a perfectly padded room for those who’ve never quite mastered vulnerability in real life.

But the dangers are real. A recent study found that people (until recently, predominantly men) who form emotional bonds with bots lean on them more over time and nurture fewer real-world relationships. In other words, the more you confide in your AI other, the more isolated you’re likely to become.

So, heading into 2026, if you’re tempted to think nothing beats a space with zero judgement, consider this: what might actually make you a more fulfilled human is interacting with someone who is one, too.

PRETTY LITTLE ERA

Micro-cuteness was a full-blown aesthetic takeover in 2025, and every man had a tiny accessory doing the heavy lifting. Timothée Chalamet led the tiny-watch revolution, regularly spotted in small Cartiers, including ladies pieces. For the Palm Springs International Film Festival, he wore not one but two Cartier tank minis. Talk about flex? Meanwhile Paul Mescal doubled down with baby Baignoires and postage-stamp Tanks on the Gladiator II junket, proving real men do wear ladies watches. Even Henry Golding and Andrew Garfield ditched the chunky pieces for petite, jewel-box tickers. Jonathan Bailey’s “slutty little glasses” broke the internet harder than the dinosaurs he outran. Drew Starkey, Pedro Pascal, Oscar Isaac, even Jack Reacher’s Alan Ritchson—everyone got the memo: go smaller, get hotter.

And if you didn’t have a pint-sized dog tucked under your arm? Sorry, you weren’t part of the tableau. Glen Powell had Brisket. Orlando Bloom was spotted with Biggie Smalls everywhere. The tiny dogs were basically doing the PR.

Talking about micro-trends, Labubu plushies dangled off Goyard bags, turning NBA tunnels and airport halls into kawaii runways. Even Beckham, Central Cee and BTS’s V were accessorising with the ugly-cute mascot like it was a Birkin.

Men’s jewellery went small and soft —wafer-thin chains, tiny pearls, quiet silver pieces that sat on the collarbone.

Men weren’t afraid to be delicate, adorable, even a bit ridiculous. The era of macho maximalism? Over. 2025 proved that the most irresistible men were the ones embracing their cutest, tiniest selves.

HARDER, FASTER, STRONGER

Thin may have been in (courtesy GLP-1), but at the other end of the spectrum, data-tracking and “optimising” reigned supreme, as men became relentless in their pursuit of longevity. Films like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s The Smashing Machine and Jonathan Majors’s Magazine Dreams only fuelled the movement, framing masculinity through the grind of sports and bodybuilding.

The numbers backed the surge. Men returned to the gym in droves. Strava screenshots and “personal bests” flooded Instagram feeds. And when it came to committing to body goals, men quite literally put a smart ring on it.

Longevity travel, medical testing, health treatments and biomarker obsession only stirred the pot further, as men hunted for a roadmap to the mythical 100-year life.

In 2025, it was go big or go home. And despite years of preaching the gospel of mental wellbeing, the momentum swung back to mental toughness: the hyper-disciplined, self-reliant masculine ideal. In this new era of flexed-up hypermasculinity, one question lingers: are we moving forward, or just repackaging our most primitive instincts?

10-STEP SKINCARE ERA

It was the year when it finally happened!

Men woke up from their slumber and decided to moisturise their face and didn’t stop at that. Some committed to three steps, others took it to eight, and a few went all the way to 10-step routines. Morning and evening. Religiously regimented.

Those archaic notions of masculinity around skincare? Done and dusted for good. Cleansing, toning and moisturising were all on the menu, all year long. Who thought men would talk about retinol and skin barrier with the same passion that’s usually reserved for Virat Kohli’s form? Well... since King Kohli uses skincare too, why shouldn’t the men who hero-worship him! Brands and beauty experts vying for new customers got to expand their market, and celebrities and influencers got one more thing to create content about.

Girlfriends and wives celebrated for their significant others were finally looking well-groomed. Couples who moisturise together, stay together, right?

It’s like the universe conspired for men to wake up and smell the coffee, or that coffee face mask they’ve been using like their life depended on it. That hipster hair and scruffy skin look was out. Vanity doesn’t play favourites—fine lines and wrinkles aren’t welcome, no matter the gender. We don’t make the rules; it’s men who’ve started filtering their pictures and asking about skincare rituals on Reddit.

Is it a trend? Not really.

Anyone with any skin in the game knows that taking care of it isn’t restricted to the fairer sex. You won’t become less of a man just because you’ve applied sunscreen.

In fact, you’d be better off applying it through the day. Don’t forget to use a hand cream and lip balm too. Men might be from Mars, but when it comes to skincare, they’ve shifted base to Venus. Why should girls have all the fun!

THE MANPURSE WENT MAINSTREAM

There was a time when men were accidental jugglers, balancing phones, keys, wallets, earphones, sunglasses, even vapes like a walking Jenga tower with overstuffed pockets.

Then the world shifted.

Phones got bigger, pockets got slimmer, SPF turned into a personality trait and Jacob Elordi strolled in, making the manpurse not just acceptable but aspirational. Long gone is the “Babe, can you put this in your bag?” era.

2025 was the year men collectively chose utility, space and taste, all while looking like a thousand bucks. The manpurse entered the chat and officially cemented itself as a staple.

Today’s man is stylish and capable. He no longer relies on a partner to carry his things. He owns his choices, and his bags. Don’t be mistaken, a manpurse isn’t a sad backpack playing dress up. The options are endless, from sculpted leather totes and slouchy crossbodies to micro designer bags and luxe pouches, each doing the heavy lifting while looking effortlessly cool.

Whether it’s Jeremy Allen on a Monday morning with a market tote spilling fresh flowers, David Beckham radiating effortless big-bag cool on a city sidewalk or Virat Kohli casually slinging a crossbody with calibrated ease, one thing became clear in 2025. The bag isn’t the statement anymore.

The man is.

THE MALE SEX BOMB BLEW UP!

Pedro Pascal had the internet in a chokehold. Jonathan Bailey made headlines as Sexiest Man Alive. Tilak Varma was ‘fine shyt’ for many TikTok girlies, gaylies and theylies. Glen Powell’s manspreading moments (with Brisket in tow) got everyone talking. Rohit Saraf went from boy-next-door to hottie-you'd-want-next-door. Travis Kelce became the gym teacher of everyone’s imagination. Clips of Carlos Alcaraz smashing forehands (yes, tennis) were everywhere. Ishaan Khatter in The Royals served ample beef and biscuit—a feast for (numerous) sore eyes. And the list could go on.

In 2025, the male sex symbol truly had a moment, and everyone seemed to be having fun with it. Men have never been this hot-topic, hot-bod, hot-anything before. Bare torsos and sculpted abs are being checked out now more than ever, along with… well, other features. Some men enjoyed the spotlight; others complained about objectification… possibly because the spotlight wasn’t on them!

But what’s behind this sudden uprising of the male “sex bomb” ? Is it because, post-#MeToo, there's a shift, and blatant sexualisation of women's bodies is subject to acute scrutiny and critique? Or is it simply that women, and pretty much everyone else, have started expressing desire online with the same unapologetic energy that has mostly been a prerogative of the straight male?

As that famous tagline goes: men, you’re worth it too. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy feeling attractive? Those hours at the gym have to pay off somehow. It's time to step up, get online and enjoy the attention. Your moment is now.

THE RETURN OF BRO-FESSIONALISM

Even as the #MeToo movement cleared out long-overdue rot and moved workplaces toward a safer, more inclusive culture, a different undercurrent has taken shape: a growing belief among some men that they’re suddenly “at risk,” wary of even routine interactions with female colleagues. Those quiet rumblings swelled into headline-making noise this year, fuelling a regression toward bro-fessionalism.

In the age of Trump, it seems, the quietened pig has found his voice again. In his big zaddy-energy era, Mark Zuckerberg talked about bringing masculine energy back to the workplace. “I think having a culture that celebrates aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive,” he said on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Joining him is conservative writer Helen Andrews, who arrives at similar conclusions from a different angle. The “feminisation of the workplace,” she argues, prioritises the feminine over the masculine. Traits like rationality, risk and competition, she says, are no longer on the corporate agenda. “If women are thriving more in the modern workplace, is that really because they are outcompeting men? Or is it because the rules have been changed to favour them?” she asks.

The implication is clear: we need to “man up” at work.

Closer to home, lightly veiled misogyny showed its face again with Narayana Murthy’s 72-hour workweek suggestion, quickly topped by the 90-hour week floated by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). “How long can you stare at your wife?” L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan quipped, lamenting that he can’t call employees in even on Sundays.

A Reddit post titled “My workplace is triggering my misogyny” went viral—his claims that women receive better mentorship, face fewer consequences for mistakes and are prioritised for promotions struck a chord with other bros online.

So, are we really heading back to The Wolf of Wall Street and Mad Men era? Let the backslapping begin.

THE DAD AESTHETIC

It’s hard to picture Robert Pattinson, former patron saint of brooding vampires, just hanging with the dads. And yet 2025 was the year he declared the highlight of his life was, well… dad hangouts.

“This is dope. I love this,” he said.

Fatherhood has been undergoing a soft-focus rebrand for a while, but 2025 was the year the dad aesthetic went full frontal. Men revelled in newborn joys, embraced nurturing roles in public, and somehow managed to look devastatingly good while doing it.

Priorities were realigned in real time. Virat Kohli walked away from Test cricket because he wanted more time with his kids. KL Rahul skipped his team’s opening IPL match to be present for the birth of his baby. Elsewhere, men celebrated the title of Dad. Writer-producer Nikhil Taneja threw himself a baby shower, then launched a dads-only WhatsApp group dedicated to “wholesome, emotionally honest” conversations. Novak Djokovic routinely broke into goofy little shimmies on court for his daughter Tara—dancing to make her smile, as the world watched and sighed.

Style followed suit. The Independent officially crowned “Dadcore” as fashion’s latest takeover: loose cuts, slouchy fits, a wardrobe that signals a man who’s got nothing to prove, and someone to go home to.

The archetype of the dad as strong, silent alpha? Retired. Replaced by a figure who’s emotionally available, expressive and a safe space. “I’m a lot softer than my dad was,” the standard-bearer of present-day fatherhood, David Beckham has said. When the OG says softness is in, the world listens.

To read more stories from Esquire India's December 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine