This one goes out to Jeff, though in all fairness Natalie Portman has always been a shoo-in for Dazzler of the Day if only for her performance in the brilliant ‘Black Swan’ – a film I absolutely adored. I’ve been a fan of Portman’s since her early and indelible turns in ‘The Professional’ and ‘Beautiful Girls’ all the way through to her kick-ass hilarity on ‘Saturday Night Live’. Through it all, she’s maintained a grace and elegance, which in the land of Hollywood is not always easy to do.
Never in my life did I think that Debbie Gibson’s 80’s classic ‘Lost In Your Eyes’ could be improved, but Joey McIntyre helps her turn it into the duet that it feels like it may have always meant to be. Following in the steps of Gibson, McIntyre earns his own Dazzler of the Day tribute here, with his own musical evolution and survival in a career that began as part of a boy band – not typically the most lasting of careers. That McIntyre has turned it into a life-long series of unexpected successes (see his hilarious acting turn in ‘The Heat’ for example) and his recent solo albums, and you have a list of reasons why he’s our Dazzler of the Day. (Also note his previous appearances as Hunk of the Day here, and Hunk of the Day there.
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It took a Debbie Gibson mix-tape playlist that entranced me on Sirius XM radio while coming back from Boston this week that reminded me of the brilliance that Gibson has been creating since the 1980’s. She recently dropped her first album of brand new material in twenty years -‘The Body Remembers’ – and the cuts I’ve heard thus far are as compelling as those she was making in our youth. (Absolutely in love with ‘Strings’!) Back then, it was ‘Lost in Your Eyes’ that held my rapt attention, cemented by the dance abandon of ‘Electric Youth’ – and her parade of pop hits informed my childhood more than I realized. More compelling was watching her artistry mature and evolve, all while somehow retaining an integrity and talent that so many others squandered in the industry. For that alone, she earns this Dazzler of the Day honor. Hearing her new album reminds me that while youth still contains its own electricity, maturity and grace resound and resonate more profoundly these days. Check out Debbie Gibson’s official website here for links to all the new music and upcoming performance dates.
Reigning Prince of Peloton has already been crowned Hunk of the Day here (back when such a thing existed), and now he has earned a Dazzler of the Day honor as well. Thanks to his engaging and inspirational Peloton sessions, Rigsby has made a fitness name for himself while help putting Peloton on the map of popularity. (Anyone who grooves to Britney Spears is all right in my book.)
Having already been named a Hunk of the Day here at such a young age, there was time for Billy Gilman to stage a second act – sure to be one of many for someone whose talent has grown and evolved over time. Today he earns the Dazzler of the Day crown thanks to his dazzling song ‘Soldier’ which is the latest highlight of his career. See his website for more evidence of his brilliance.
Ideally, and if we keep working at it, our tastes and design preference evolve and grow over time. When I first encountered the style of Jonathan Adler, I wan’t quite ready to appreciate and love it, but back then (mid 90’s) I was in the midst of some very questionable obsessions. These days, I’m in full adoration of the bright and whimsical elements his work brings to a room, and so he has been named Dazzler of the Day here, because dazzle is what he does best. Check out his site here for more gorgeousness.
She very well may be the reigning star of this summer’s Olympic Games, adding to her medal count to trigger records right and left and all over the place thanks to her speed and consistency. This is Allyson Felix, who nimbly earns a Dazzler of the Day from her winning efforts at the Tokyo Olympics.
My summer song obsession just found fruition in the latest from Lizzo, with an assist by Cardi B, and so it is that Lizzo earns her first Dazzler of the Day crowning. I admire anyone with the audacity to be themselves in the face of hate and the ills of society’s judgment. Lizzo embodies body-positivity in a world that devalues anyone who veers from the silly self-imposed standards of the mainstream. Add to that the talent and entertainment expertise of a woman just beginning to exert her power and grace, and you have the ideal Dazzler of the Day. PS – Listen to ‘Rumors’ and come back here for a proper exploration of all that ass-shaking fabulousness.
There is no one who embodies the Dazzler of the Day title better than Grant Chungo, a news anchor with a penchant for the fabulous and the flair, and who unabashedly makes no apologies for being exactly who he is. That he does so in such matter-of-fact and fine form earns him this Dazzler of the Day, because sometimes there is courage and bravery simply in being who you are and not hiding or bending or pretending to be anyone else. I wasn’t always good at that, so whenever I see someone living out their authentic life, and in such a public way, it thrills me.
Suzie took a recent photo of me and all the gray in my hair pushed her to declare Taika Waititi my current doppelgänger. At first I argued, then looked at him online and she may be right. Poor guy – I’m throwing him a bone by crowning him as Dazzler of the Day. He’s more than earned it, thanks to his excellence as director, writer, actor, producer and comedian. While most declare his direction of ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ his crowning accomplishment thus far, it’s the exquisitely powerful ‘Jojo Rabbit’ that most enthralled me. Looking forward to seeing ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ with Skip next year.
Sometimes all it takes to be named Dazzler of the Day is a properly-placed scream of spousal excitement and support. Case in point is Dustin Lance Black, husband to Tom Daley, and quite rightfully a Dazzler in his own right. While his giddy exultations at his husband’s Olympic gold medal moment allowed the world to share in his exuberance, Dustin is also one of the most impressive entertainment gurus in the Hollywood business. He’s a director, screenwriter, producer, and, perhaps most impressively, unrelenting LGBTQ+ rights activist. The list of his creative endeavors and accomplishments is far too long to list here, but a quick Google search will bring you to his many credits, and now he can add Dazzler of the Day to that collection.
A genuine Renaissance man in the truest sense of the term, Matt Iseman can add Dazzler of the Day to his already-endless curriculum vitae. From his work on ‘American Ninja Warrior’ to his current morning hosting gig of the Olympics at #TokyoLive on Peacock, Iseman continues to make his mark on the pop culture map, and it was his spectacular turn on RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race that brought his talents to my attention. The greatest thing about his hilarious entertainment skills is the heart and substance behind it – and in case there’s any doubt about there being something deeper at work the fact hat he’s a doctor is practically a mere foot-note in his stellar history.
For further exploration into his career and a very long list of his appearances and accomplishments, check out his comprehensive website here.
He’s not everyone’s cup of tea (and I actually just caught someone on social media saying they wish the world would stop trying to force the idea that he’s attractive onto all of us) but Adam Driver also elicits a heated and fervent fan base response of love and adoration. Personally, I’m just a fan of his talent, and his taste in fragrance, as these shots are reportedly from a new Burberry campaign. That’s enough to justify this Dazzler of the Day. (And be sure to revisit his Hunk of the Day post here, or this artfully black and white post, or this gratuitously shirtless post there.)
A graduate of Harvard University, and working on her Master’s degree in epidemiology (I won’t even pretend to know what that is but I’m sure it’s more complicated than, say, a degree in English and American Literature), Gabby Thomas also just won an Olympic medal at the Tokyo Olympics. For all of those accomplishments, and the promise of so much more, Thomas easily earns this Dazzler of the Day. 
Shot-put Olympic medalist, and black and queer athletic icon Raven Saunders has made a historical splash at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. From the iconic hair to the indelible masks, Saunders has left an impression on the world stage, and I’m in awe of her grit and gumption, hence this Dazzler of the Day honor. Her inspiration has fittingly been the Hulk, and her stunning displays of power rightfully earned her an Olympic medal.
