‘Tis the glorious season of Broadway Bares, and the accompanying Strip-a-thon that raises money for Broadway Cares. One of the most beloved poster boys for this celebrated event is Ricky Schroeder, a Broadway triple-threat who earns his first Dazzler of the Day after a couple of Hunk of the Day features (here and here). Check out his Broadway Bares fundraising page here to join in the action.
When someone indicates that their inspirations are, and I quote, “gypsies, pirates, circuses, ‘70’s porn, ‘30’s glamour, and the National Enquirer” then I feel very strongly that they should be my friend. Genius photographer Dusti Cunningham references all that and more in the body of work he has amassed since departing an immaculate single-wide trailer in Kansas and landing in the sun-soaked mad-fantasy-land of Los Angeles. Counting Dolly Parton and his mother as wig-wearing heroes, Cunningham has made a name for himself with his unique vision.
In such uninspired times as these, when escapism and fantasy comes tinged with darkness and underlying tension, Cunningham’s work is a fitting embodiment of the multi-layered existence we all seem to be navigating. Earning the Dazzler of the Day is adding just another bit of shine to his luminous inspiration. Check out his website here.
A little gratuitous beefcake never hurt an old blog like this, so here is Pietro Boselli making his Speedo-clad debut as Dazzler of the Day after numerous appearances here, such as in his first Hunk of the Day feature, this shirtless post, this underwear post, this naked post, this bulging post, this butt post, and this nude post. It’s summer, and such a skintastic Dazzler is especially welcome in a rainy week.
Taking up the Dazzler of the Day torch, Lana Del Rey brings her moody vocal stylings to a summer that is in need of such music. A fellow upstate-New York alum, she brings a melancholy beauty to the musical landscape that is perfect for the rainy season we’ve been having.
With this sexy summer shoot from Wonderland magazine, Shawn Mendes moves from Hunk of the Day stature to Dazzler of the Day material thanks to a strategically-placed guitar. His shirtless poses have been featured here and here, and his underwear shots here, but this marks his first turn as Dazzler.
Having been christened Hunk of the Day twice already, Daniel Newman was well on his way to earning the coveted triple crown, but then we switched things up, so he earns his first Dazzler of the Day here, probably, on his way to nab two more. Newman still scintillates on Twitter, engaging with fans and entertaining while adding feathers to his burgeoning Hollywood cap.
Continuing our Summer Olympics 2021 Dazzler of the Day run, here is one of the most gold-medal-festooned competitors in the swimming world. Katie Ledecky holds the record for most gold medals in world championships and Olympic games for a female swimmer. She’s heading to Tokyo soon to see if she can add to all that metal.
Defending her last Olympic win, Dalilah Muhammad is heading into Tokyo’s Olympic Games poised to grab more precious metal in track and field. Today she earns her first Dazzler of the Day honor as the US prepares to send her off in a celebratory flash.
Widely regarded as the fastest rugby player in the world, Carlin Isles sails past his competitors to earn his first Dazzler of the Day honor, just in time for his trip to Tokyo for the Summer 2021 Olympics. He’ll be part of the USA rugby team (marking his second Olympic Games), and his speed looks like it will set the international stage aflame. 
Artists make the best Dazzlers of the Day, and that holds true for Alistair Watkins-Stuart, an illustrator from Cardiff, South Wales. His work reflects his obsessions of fashion, vintage movies, and a dose of cheeky humor. Founder of Slightly Wobbly Designs, Alistair is an enthusiastic supporter of his fellow artists, spreading and tagging those he admires, which is the ultimate mark of not only a great artist, but a pretty amazing person. (He was the one who put James Falciano on my radar.) Today, it’s Alistair who is dazzling. Check out his work here.
The Summer Olympics are beginning in a few short weeks, so we’ll be featuring some Olympians in both the Dazzler of the Day feature and the Olympic Spotlights as we do during Olympic season. There are just too many amazing athletes and not enough time. Case in point is one of the fastest swimmers in the world right now: Caeleb Dressel, who earns his first Dazzler of the Day here. Keep an eye on him, if you can…
The quagmire that is social media grows increasingly upsetting with each passing day, but every now and then a ray of inspiration shines through, a reminder of the very best ways the internet can bring us closer together, and in some instances back together after decades apart. Such was the case when a woman named Paula reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I was oboe player in Amsterdam and the brother of Paul. It was an old friend from high school – now known as Paula ‘Precious’ Bell – and she has earned this Dazzler of the Day honor not just for her work on her own fitness endeavors – Ninja P Fitness – but for having the courage to reach out to someone who in high school was anything but approachable. To be named a Dazzler typically requires more than one dazzling aspect, and Paula also has a few other aces up her sleeves, as evidenced by this magnificent multi-hyphenate: Speaker/Coach/Consultant/Author. Her website offers even more magnificence here.
Her recent Affirmation Monday video speaks of inspiration, a timely entry from her YouTube channel ‘The BA Martial Artist’ (she’s aiming for 1000 subscribers by her birthday in December, so give her a follow and start subscribing).
After she sent me a message and I confirmed that I was indeed the kid she remembered from school, I sent her an apology for being such a terror in high school. In many respects, my high school behavior was less than kind, and in more pointed terms I was simply a mean girl. “Yes, you were a little bit of a terror,” she acknowledged, before being big enough to offer some grace: “Sometimes embarrassing or humiliating situations actually give you strength along the way.”
That little show of forgiveness touched me, and I wrote back that I actually considered her a closer friend than I probably ever indicated at the time. She was one of my favorite people in the band of misfits that comprised the Amsterdam High School orchestra in the early 90’s, and though she was younger than me, and had grown up in my brother’s class, I felt a closeness to her. We even exchanged notes like girls in high school were wont to do in the old days.
After exploring her YouTube videos and social media accounts, I gave her my text number and we dove into the modern version of exchanging high school notes, making tentative plans to reconnect in Boston this fall.
Joining teammate Simone Biles in the quest for gold at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Sunisa Lee earns her first Dazzler of the Day for the recent qualifying show she put on which secured her place on the American gymnastics team. Olympic excellence is the sort of dazzling achievement that will always impress and inspire, and Lee looks to be a top medal contender in next month’s games.
Broadway performer Kyle Dean Massey was part of the recent revival of ‘Company’ but when the show announced its return later this year he had a happier announcement that since he and his husband were welcoming their new baby, he’d have to drop out. There is something refreshingly noble about someone who makes such a sacrifice for their child, and for that alone Massey earns his first Dazzler of the Day. (It’s an honor he can add to his previous Hunk of the Day crowning here.)
The last time I remember being this enraptured by the dazzle and pizzazz of an Olympic runner (and their nails) was when Florence Griffith Joyner set the world ablaze several Olympic decades ago. (I may be dating myself, but who better to date?) This stunner is Sha’Carri Richardson, who swiftly earns her first Dazzler of the Day honor for her record-breaking speed and agility in the Olympic trials. 
