Must Listen: Peak Male Beauty
Inside the image-obsessed subculture that is “looksmaxxing.”
Audio
March 23, 2026
A young man sits on a red couch looking at the camera.
Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, has become the face of an internet subculture called looksmaxxing. Cassidy Araiza for The New York Times

THE DAILY

Peak Male Beauty

Steroids, hormones and bone hammering for a more perfect face? “The Daily” goes inside looksmaxxing.

A place to listen, now in The New York Times app.
Explore podcasts and narrated articles to help you make sense of the news, all in the Listen tab. Download the app.

Thanks for reading.

If you’re enjoying what you’re reading, please consider recommending it to others. They can sign up here.

Have feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at audiocare@nytimes.com.

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Audio from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Audio, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

Zeta LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018