Sexiest Man Alive complete list: These are the best looking men according to People magazine 1985 - 2025

Hollywood actor Jonathan Bailey is the latest recipient of People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ award, after being confirmed as the winner of the accolade on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

How did Bailey react to Sexiest Man Alive win in 2025?

Jonathan Bailey is the new Sexiest Man Alive, after the British actor was on Monday confirmed as this year’s winner of the People magazine award.

Bailey succeeds fellow screen star John Krasinski as Sexiest Man Alive, having been announced as the 2025 choice on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Bailey, an Emmy nominee for his performance in the 2023 TV series Fellow Travellers, becomes the first openly gay man to hold the title.

The 37-year-old, also best known for his roles in Bridgerton and Wicked, told Fallon that he is “thrilled” at People’s decision to “bestow this honor on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man”.

In an interview with People, Bailey added: “It’s a huge honor. Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd. It’s been a secret, so I’m quite excited for some friends and family to find out.”

The 37th recipient of People’s award, Bailey joins a list of Sexiest Men Alive that began with two-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson nearly 40 years ago.

Sexiest Man Alive winners: 1985-2025

Who else was in the running for Sexiest Man Alive 2025?

In 2025, some young guns’ names were being mentioned for the prize

‘Regretting You’ star Mason Thames was named as sexiest new hearthrob in the readers choice poll. Christopher Briney, who plays Conrad in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ is another candidate for this year’s title.

The winner of People’s Sexiest Man Alive has gone to “older” actors on several ocassions. This year in that “mature” category we have actor Dave Franco, 40, coutnry singer Riley Green, 37, dancer Derek Hough, 40, and actor Michael Vartan, 56.

How is the Sexiest Man Alive chosen?

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The identity of the Sexiest Man Alive is decided by the editorial staff at People.

Since the award was first handed out in 1985, John F. Kennedy Jr. (1988), Adam Levine (2013), David Beckham (2015) and John Legend (2019) are the only non-actors to have been recognised for their sexiness, with many eyebrows raised in 2016 when former WWE star and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson scooped the prize.