We love a double dazzler, and with this crowning Joe Locke earns his second Dazzler of the Day honor. Thanks to the new season of ‘Heartstopper’ and his turn in ‘Agatha All Along’, Locke is on a bit of a roll. Couple that with a fun sense of fashion for the red carpet, and you have someone doubly worthy of this honor. (See his first turn as Dazzler of the Day here.)
It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Dazzler of the Day here (and your requests/recommendations are always welcome) and we are back with a great one. This is Joe Keery, actor and musician who came on the scene in a big way with ‘Stranger Things’ and has continued to mark a name for himself, such as his charming turn in ‘Free Guy’ (it’s almost impossible to steal a movie from Ryan Reynolds, but Keery managed to do it). We eagerly await what he’s doing next…
Fierce as fuck, entrancing and exciting, and causing a glorious commotion all the way into the pop culture firmament, Chappell Roan earns this Dazzler of the Day. From the refreshing charm of debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” to the fabulously prickly way she’s been dealing with her insta-fame, Roan is the hottest pop star of the moment – and she’s got the quirky fashion sense to lead the way. Her album is my current soundtrack – and I’m far from alone. Check out her website here for upcoming tour dates.
Fresh off his recent MTV Video Music Awards performance (didn’t even realize that the VMAs were still a thing until I saw some social media posts about it – and who scheduled it on 9/11 anyway?) Benson Boone earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to some riveting showmanship and a killer set of vocals. He’s currently touring all over the world, and has a charming website here for all that’s happening. One of his social bios simply proclaims he’s “just a happy guy writing sad songs” and that’s an envious place to be.
If I could have my choice of one person’s voice to narrate my life’s story, I would choose Morgan Freeman. One of the most prolific and popular actors of the past half-century, Freeman’s Oscar-winning body of work includes one of my favorite movies of all-time: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. He’s also played notable roles in works as varied as ‘Se7en’, ‘Bruce Almighty’, ‘Amistad’, ‘The Dark Knight’, and ‘Driving Miss Daisy’. Today he can add Dazzler of the Day to that list of impressive accomplishments.
Hugh Jackman has been here naked before in this post, but this marks his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day. He was my favorite part of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ and lent the otherwise frivolous fun a certain gravitas and pathos, that little spark of emotional heft that have otherwise been largely missing from the Multiverse offerings of late. Jackman is an accomplished multiple-threat performer, having mastered the arts of acting, singing, and dancing across the stages of Broadway, movies and live performances.
My friend Elizabeth introduced me to Jason Kramer via a Madonna social media post, which is how the best people meet each other. I checked out his charming website here and was instantly inspired by someone who has turned their passion into a career, enough so that Jason earns his first Dazzler of the Day crowning. Don’t take my cumbersome words for it, here’s an excerpt from his website that does a much better job explaining how he made his journey from theatre-lover to costume designer and more:
My fascination with the magic of Theatre began when my parents took me to a production of Peter Pan at 7 years old. I remember noticing that Peter’s “shadow” was made of a sheer fabric; that there was a wire helping him and the Darling children fly; that Tinker-bell was actually a tiny little spotlight that was definitely not kept alive by the power of my applause.
None of those realizations detracted from the magic—what they did do was ignite a creative spark in my brain. I knew that I was going to be one of the people who makes magic. Fast forward to California State University, Long Beach. This is where I started to learn about storytelling through Costume design. As a Costume Designer, I have a unique relationship with the characters I’m designing for. I get to use my tools to share our special bond with the audience. I get to speak to the audience about the world in which the characters inhabit, their innermost thoughts, feelings, relationships and experiences through the subliminal language of costume design.
I find great satisfaction in the collaborative process of design and do my best to instill joy and passion in every project I am a part of. I am inspired by costume history, Old Hollywood glamour, and contemporary fashion design. I find immense pleasure in creating detailed and expressive design that not only informs the viewer, but perhaps inspires the emerging magic-makers of the future.
Besides costume design, I feel the most powerful when I’m drawing—I’ve been doing it since I could hold a pencil! I also love to drink fancy coffee beverages, and binge murder mystery TV series and old seasons of Rupaul’s Drag Race. I believe dogs are the greatest gift ever bestowed upon humankind, and little boys should play with dolls and wear dresses if they want to. I also love pizza and tacos.
Currently, I’m living in Ashland, Oregon with my husband and two cats, Trixie and Pepper. I’d love to work with you—whether I’m designing costumes for a production, working as a Design Assistant, or bringing your designs to life via digital illustration, I’m here to bring excellence, passion, and JOY. ~ Jason Kramer
Proving that this beautiful brat summer of 2024 is not quite over, Naomi Osaka donned this spectacular green ruffled tennis outfit for her opening volley of the US Open, and in my mind this kicks open the door of some fun and fine fashion finally being worn on the tennis court. She easily won her set, so it doesn’t seem to impede her skills in the least, and for being brave in this and so many other ways, she earns her first Dazzler of the Day crowning.
Seeking out a spiritual path in life is often the last bastion of hope for those of us searching for meaning in how we live. Starting off on such a journey, or simply making one’s own way and determining which direction to head is what Kaelan Strouse offers with his books, coaching and spiritual retreats. Meditation has become a life-saving practice for me, so a spiritual guide and coach is nothing short of dazzling, hence Kae’s crowning as Dazzler of the Day here. He melds spirituality, sexuality, and self-empowerment into an authentic and genuine reconciliation of our minds and bodies. Check out his website here for a more detailed and fascinating look at his life’s calling, excerpted below:
Kaelan is a spiritual guide who has led meditations, coaching sessions, and yogic practices since 2008. He founded Ecstatic Self LLC during the pandemic of 2020; his client list ranges from CEOs of NFL teams to federal judges—from Ivy League tenured professors to leaders in healthcare startups.
He has written two books on personal growth and belonging (Journey to the Ecstatic Self & I Dreamt of Flight). Kaelan lived in a meditative ashram for 7 years, earned his advanced CRT 500 in yogic instruction, and has over 1/2-million followers on Ecstatic Self YouTube and other socials.
He has led corporate leadership and empathy workshops for top corporations like JP Morgan, TripAdvisor, KPMG, Bank of America, etc. He graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University and lives in Washington, DC with his husband and pets.
Singer, songwriter, producer and powerhouse performer Todd Alsup is one of those fantastic artists who puts on a show from soup to nuts, absolutely creating and expressing a sensational experience for the audience. Currently bringing the one-two punch of “Freedom: The George Michael Experience” and “Elton Undressed”, Alsup is channeling gay rock icons in splendid fashion, while introducing the world to his own brand of charm, talent and charisma. This marks his first Dazzler of the Day crowning. Check out his website here for further evidence of his brilliance.
Chosen by Kamala Harris to be her Vice President and running mate, Tim Walz immediately added some bite and vigor to an already enthusiastic ticket. He was an early favorite of Andy’s, thanks to his down-to-earth way of speaking and blunt way of dismissing the likes of that now-wonky Republican Party (he’s credited with coining the ‘weird’ designation of Trump and his cronies, all of whom more than live up to the billing on a daily crazy basis). Today he earns his first Dazzler of the Day, because way back in 1999 as a high school teacher and football coach, he helped form his high school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, providing support and help for LGBTQ+ students, and a vital illustration of allyship at a time when we hadn’t even heard of the word. If a football coach had ever done that when I was in school, I can’t imagine how different things might have been.
She’s been in more movies than you probably realized, and she shape-shifts so indelibly into each role that it’s a testament to her talent that we don’t see always see her as the star she is. Catherine O’Hara earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to a career of perfect performances, including the upcoming reprise of her role in ‘Beetlejuice’. She was Kevin’s mother in ‘Home Alone’ and the magnificently-dramatic Moira in ‘Schitt’s Creek’ – and for all the years in-between she’s inhabited characters that were as dotty as they were endearing (see her down-to-earth turn in ‘Temple Grandin’). Throughout it all, she retains a plucky sense of humor about her business, while honing her craft with elevated skills gained through sheer survival.
Once upon a pretty time, it was enough just to be handsome to be a Dazzler of the Day. Let’s return to those simpler days, and crown Tobias Reuter as today’s Dazzler. A male model is more than magical enough to properly dazzle. That’s all.
Hurtling toward Olympic glory, Grant Holloway is leaping over hurdles and charging his way into medal land at the Paris Olympics. Tonight he earns his very first Dazzler of the Day crowning thanks to his impressive performance on the track in Paris.
Swedish pole-vaulting sensation Mondo Duplantis soars to his crowning as Dazzler of the Day thanks to a gold-winning vault that catapulted him into the hearts of Olympic viewers around the world. His exuberance was gleefully contagious, and this is the sort of spirit and wonder and athletic prowess that makes these Olympic Games so transfixing. He didn’t even need a gimmick!
Armand Duplantis
