Mexican-American artist Omar Apollo is a singer, songwriter, and producer haling from Indiana. Since 2017, he’s been releasing his music to rapturous response from fans around the world. He’s currently on tour (and it hits Boston’s TD Garden on February 28) so check out his website here for upcoming dates. He garners his first Dazzler of the Day for making music that’s right for just about any vibe.
Having been an admirer of his artwork for years – decades, actually – it gives me supreme pleasure to crown Brenden Sanborn as this Dazzler of the Day. His watercolor work hangs lovingly around the world, and his focus on the male form has garnered him worthy admiration from the usual, and sometimes unexpected, subjects. Beauty transcends labels and genres, and Sanborn’s work stands as testament to the enduring power and appeal of his skills and talent, rather than any specific subject matter. Does it help that he has an eye for taking his subjects and transforming them into something almost always greater than the sum of their parts? Absolutely – and that’s part of his magic. He can take a simple everyday scene and turn it into a moment of transfixing grace through an intricate dance of shadow and light, masterfully guiding a series of deft strokes delivered with delicate acumen. Visit his website here for all that’s in the works, peruse the gorgeous collection he has for sale, and then check out his YouTube page for a glimpse into how it all happens.
Comeback King Corey Feldman was an integral thread in three of the movies that indelibly shaped my childhood in the 80’s: ‘Stand By Me‘, ‘Gremlins’ and ‘The Goonies’. Whether it was a misfit, an achingly-average kid, or a sly-tongued wisecracker, Feldman stole every movie in which he appeared. His rocky way out of child-stardom is the stuff of grace and majesty, a trajectory that continues to this day as he has repeatedly reinvented himself (see his website here for all that’s currently happening). He’s earned this Dazzler of the Day for providing the cornerstone of my childhood entertainment experience – and showing all of us how to grow up while keeping a youthful heart.
Sadly, no one alerted me to the fact that Jo Koy was at the Palace Theatre last night, so we missed out on seeing his show – wiser folks will keep an eye on his website here for touring dates and check him out when he is near. All I can do at this point is crown him as Dazzler of the Day and hope he gives me a heads up when he is near again.
My brother introduced me to him not too long ago and our household has become instant fans. As a fellow Filipino, I can relate all too well to much of his family humor, and the rest is just universal hilarity.
It’s been way more than a hot minute since we’ve featured a male model as a Dazzler of the Day, so let’s rectify that with this post on Marcus Law, an international model who has been impressing viewers with this scintillating Instagram account. Law has worked wonders with the amazing proprietor of Snooty Fox Images, and his modeling success can be attributed to what you see below.
Early on during the run of ‘Ugly Betty’ Salma Hayek gave an indelible performance that has stuck with me all these years. She was doing double duty as an executive producer throughout the show’s charming life, and since then she’s given one spellbinding performance after another, including her latest turn in the third ‘Magic Mike‘ film. (See also Channing Tatum, Channing Tatum naked, and Matt Bomer nude.) Going back to Ms. Hayek, she easily earns this Dazzler of the Day for a career of stunning portrayals on camera, and a multitude of producer credits behind the lens.
My friend JoAnn sent me a few clips of Harper Watters and recommended that he be the next Dazzler of the Day, and after visiting his exquisite website, I couldn’t agree more. Best of all, the write-up is already done, taken from the aforementioned website that you simply must visit to witness all this wonder and more:
Harper Watters has a passion for being bold and unapologetically himself, as evidenced not only in his onstage dancing as a Soloist for the Houston Ballet but in his viral heel treadmill videos. He’s accumulated over 138 thousand followers with his Instagram and created the YouTube web series The Pre Show, which documents the behind-the-scenes stage life of professional dancers.
Harper’s videos have been featured on Elle Magazine, Marie Clare, and Urban Outfitters. His social media presence has allowed him to work with photographers Mike Ruiz, Gerardo Vizmanos, and Ryan Pfluger for The New Yorker. He’s been featured in the pages of Risk, Dance Magazine, and on the cover of Dance Spirit. He’s worked with leading choreographers including Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon and has performed on international stages in Guatemala, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and in numerous US cities.
He’s proud to standout and collaborates with people, brands, and artists who aren’t afraid to either.
It’s been almost a quarter of the century since Ricky Martin unleashed ‘Livin’ La Vida Lola’ upon the world, and while he’d already forged a sizable entertainment career prior to that, it was the self-titled 1999 album that shot him to pop culture superstardom. Since then, it’s been a wild and sexy ride of sorts, with acting gigs and Broadway ventures and singles and albums. Last year looked rocky for him, but he seems to have come out of it vindicated. For enduring in the sometimes-soul-crushing business that is show, he earns this Dazzler of the Day.
My favorite moment of the Grammys this year (yes, even more favorite than Madonna introducing Sam Smith and Kim Petras, which was epic enough) was Brandi Carlile’s wife and daughters introducing her performance. Carlile is no stranger to the Grammys, having added to her staggering total of wins again this year, and she is no stranger to many of my social media friends, as evidenced by the outpouring of love that happens whenever I see someone post something on her. She earns this Dazzler of the Day honor for a career of determined focus and singular talent, and for being brave and fabulous when it’s not always easy to be either.
Most of us know Nick Offerman as a force of sly, comedic genius, but that doesn’t always translate to remarkable dramatic work, as many actors have proven over the years. His recent turn on that episode of ‘The Last of Us’ has proved a veritable revelation, illuminating the sublime talent that has been at the heart of Offerman’s career. (His tender rendition of ‘Long Long Time’ is already one of the most riveting moment of television I’ve ever watched.)
Joining his ‘Last of Us’ onscreen partner Murray Bartlett as Dazzler of the Day, Offerman earns this crowning for a richly varied career and ongoing enthusiasm for all his crafts. To that end, Offerman is a Renaissance man in the truest sense, he sings and plays guitar, he performs on stage and writes, his latest book being ‘Where the Deer and the Antelope Play’, and he continues to indulge in his passion for woodworking. Check out his enchanting website here, where this is also a schedule of his upcoming live performances.
Fresh off what is already being called the most powerful hour of television this year in ‘The Last of Us’ – Episode 3, Murray Bartlett is no surprise or revelation to those of us who have been admiring him for years. His riveting turn in the first season of ‘The White Lotus’ was responsible for putting it on the map just as much as Jennifer Coolidge, and his appearance on ‘The Last of Us’ is one of a long line of memorable performances. Now he can add Dazzler of the Day to his ever-expanding pantheon of accomplishments.
Known best as the ‘Plant Kween’, Christopher Griffin is a fellow doting and adoring plant parent. Their brilliantly-titled growing guide, “You Grow, Gurl!” is available online here. It goes a little deeper than most plant guides, tying in a healthy and celebratory thread of self-care to go with the greenery. Griffin’s book page puts it much better than I just did:
“Self-care takes many forms and tending to your plants’ needs helps you grow too. In addition to information and advice on plant care, Kween provides meditations, mindfulness activities, playlists, and more to help you practice self-care through plant-care. As Kween says, “We can learn a lot about how we treat ourselves, how we treat others, and how we navigate the world from these green lil creatures.”
Healing and growing your heart, body, and soul takes time, love, and focus. Taking care of plants teaches you to apply that same attention and love to yourself and helps you find new pathways to explore on your own botanical adventure to self-love.”
On this wintry day, Griffin is named Dazzler of the Day for bringing us the green, the growth, and the reminder to take care of ourselves.
Currently appearing in the breath-taking roller-coaster ride that is HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’, Pedro Pascal has been ubiquitous in the past few years thanks to a steady stream of powerful performances. From his turns in ‘Game of Thrones’ and the ‘Wonder Woman‘ sequel to knock-out work in ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’, Pascal has notched up several powerhouse portrayals, and after a couple of decades of making the Hollywood rounds he has more than earned this Dazzler of the Day. (He is also one of those actors who has embraced social media rather than running from it or ruining himself with it – check out his Instagram account for further evidence of his brilliance.) PS – Hi Zaddy.
Continuing our celebration of body and sex sparked by yesterday’s Dazzler of the Day, Austin Wolf carries that glorious torch in epic fashion, brazenly baring all and shredding the prudish judgment of porn that certain prurient hypocrites too often condemn. (Spoiler alert: you all watch it.) Wolf is one of the most popular gay porn stars in the business, and he has indeed made his life his business, taking any critiques to the bank and reveling in his ongoing career. (See also Diego Barros for another Defense of Porn.) In this mad world, it isn’t always easy to make a living, and I admire anyone who knows how to hustle and put in the hard work. Wolf earns his first Dazzler of the Day for all of the above.
An entertainment career that goes beyond a decade is an impressive accomplishment on its own – factor in the not-alway-lucrative aspect of operating as an openly-gay man and you have yourself a feat of epic proportions. Chris Salvatore has managed that nifty hat trick, and continues to make uncannily shrewd moves, even when it’s not always clear how they might play out. Case in point was his reported axing from what was originally billed as the Next Big (Gay) Thing: ‘The Real Friends of West Hollywood’. Now that we are seeing how that series is playing out, it seems Salvatore dodged a bullet if he was indeed let go due to some participants’ squeamishness about his having an OnlyFans account. As someone once sang, “Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend…”
As regular readers here know, this site celebrates sex-positivity and nudity, and having an OnlyFans account is not a mark of shame but of basic financial intelligence, particularly if you know how to work it. To that end, Salvatore knows how to market himself, and showcase his talents, of which there are many. (See his first turn as Dazzler of the Day here.) Acting turns in several movies, as well as musical prowess that landed him a number of record releases, in addition to forays into modeling and underwear have all proved him an exceptional Renaissance man of many trades. A glimpse of his OnlyFans content blurs the line between life and art in a way that is titillating and sometimes unexpectedly moving. There is a certain courage inherent in those who make their life a work of art, and for that Salvatore earns this second Dazzler of the Day crowning. He’s currently appearing on the ‘Gaymous Podcast’ which can be found here.
