who are not WAS(P). (Part 1)
The most striking thing about the perennial ‘hot’ lists is the whiteness of the people. Glamour Magazine (UK) has 5 non-white (black, in this case) men amongst their 70 hottest men while some random website has 10-11 (depending on how rigidly you want to define race*) non-white men in their list of 55 – a better percentage than Glamour.
*to use ‘race’ very loosely, human race being the only actual race.
Representation is more that having a black man in the Oval Office; representational media is more than having a token Asian/Black/(insert minority group). One of the best examples of equal racial representation in TV is Heroes – despite the at times stereotypical scenes or character, the minority characters in Heroes are rarely defined by their race or nationality.
I am highly sceptical of lines like (but not limited to) HQ’s Kimani etc. Other than cringe-worthy attempts at ‘ghetto’, I’d like to read heroines of minority groups who are not defined by their group characteristic. People are multi-faceted and do not always fit stereotypes; heroes or heroines who are supposed to be Latino, Black etc should be first and foremost heroes or heroines, not Latino/Black….
I can go on and on about this hot-button topic but getting back to a hottest list…it’s not that difficult to find at least ten really hot men to include in any top whatever list!
Here’s my top ten hottest/sexiest men who are NOT of the blond-blue-eyed mold (in no particular order, because I dislike ranking).
Yandel (Wisin Y Yandel)
The most biased choice.
Standing at 5’5 (1.6m), he’s not the usual tall, dark and handsome. But he sure is handsome. There is something about Sr Llandel Veguilla Salazar that appeals to me. His beautiful lips? Eyes? Un cuerpo brutal que todo mujer, desearía tocar? (A body every woman want to touch?) Don’t really care. When a man is this fine, one does not question much.
That’s the looking part. With Wisin, the W&Y duo has produced many hits – all catchy, fun, danceable tunes that are easy on the ears. Which is why I’m glad that, despite my usual dislike for crossover English albums, Wisin y Yandel are cracking mainstream music. (But dude, keep igriega rather than Y!)
Tahar Rahim
Tahar Rahim is most notably known for his starring role as Malik El Djebena in Un prophete. Doing for Un Prophete what Wentworth Miller did for Prison Break – make prison seem less gross – Tahar Rahim made me keep my eyes on the screen despite the high-ick factor of realism in French cinema. The film wasn’t half-bad either. (Ha ha. It is a great movie!)
Chino (Chino y Nacho)
I’ll admit Chino of this Venezualan duo is the cute one (even if he doesn’t rock my boat. Tryin’ to be objective, people!).
Girls everywhere are probably hoping Nina Bonita won’t be their one hit so that they can stare at his pecs more.
Me, I like his dreads.
Emraan Hashmi
Despite being known more for shedding his clothes and his sex scenes (oh so tame storm in a teacup sex scenes!), Emraan Hashmi can act. Check out Once upon a Time in Mumbai. For a bit of unconventional Bollywood rom-com, watch Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.
Takeshi Kaneshiro
An actor who has proven himself with longevity in a fickle industry, he just gets better-looking with age. My favourite of his films is House of Flying Daggers.
To be continued
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