VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY
VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY
VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY
VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY VOICE
HANNAH
GADSBY
The Comic Who’s
Taking on Toxic
Masculinity
EJ Johnson is a
television personality
who, by embracing traditionally
feminine clothing and
cosmetics, is helping broaden
mainstream ideas about style.
GQ: Your father, Magic
Johnson, represents a kind
of traditional masculinity.
How did you navigate your
own ideas while having
him as a dad?
EJ JOHNSON: I always knew
that I was never going to
be that type of man in that
hypermasculine type of world.
That was never going to be
the tea for me. My dad is an
incredible man, though, and
the fact that he put all the
comments and judgments
aside to be like, I’m going to let
this kid be free because
I love him—that’s the greatest
gift he ever gave me.
What’s the biggest change
in the way we talk about male
beauty today?
When I started experimenting,
in 2010, it wasn’t talked about.
It’s cool to see it become less
stigmatized. I’ve always had an
affinity for expressing myself
in feminine ways. When I was
growing up, it was something
I was told to hide. Now I’m
a much happier person, and
more successful, when I’m
expressing myself with my
feminine energy.
What would you say to men
who’ve never considered
wearing makeup?
The takeaway is, if you see
someone doing something
you’ve never seen before, that
shouldn’t be weird. It may not
be for you, but don’t demonize
it. Don’t diminish that shine.
↓
her own suit
Michael Kors
sweater $275
Paul Smith at
Mr Porter
glasses,
her own
EJ Johnson on...
The Joys of the
Male Beauty
Movement
“THIS IDEA THAT TO BE A
YOU HAVE TO BE THE
FURTHEST AWAY FROM BEING
A THAT YOU
POSSIBLY CAN IS REALLY WEIRD.”
96 GQ.COM NOVEMBER 2019
THIS PAGE, LEFT, PHOTOGRAPH: AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY IMAGES. RIGHT, HAIR AND MAKEUP: ROY BEESON. OPPOSITE PAGE, GROOMING: RACHEL LEIDIG.
Photograph by Gillian Laub
Styled by Taryn Bensky
