The looksmaxxing trend, a movement built around the deliberate optimization of one’s physical appearance, has worked its way into mainstream conversation. UFC featherweight Charles Jourdain recently offered his take on where the practice gets it right and where it crosses a line.
The MMA star shared his perspective in a recent interview on the growing phenomenon that has young men across the internet obsessing over jaw structure, skin care, and physical self-improvement.
For Jourdain, the foundational idea behind looksmaxxing carries real merit.
“Someone who takes care of themselves is not being just natural beauty. Like if you look at someone who took care, like took care of her hair, beard, whatever, you respect the fact that this person is caring about herself,” Jourdain said. “So when you see someone who looks good, wear good stuff, not to impress, but you know, to show I’m working on myself, people will be drawn to these people.”
The featherweight views the discipline behind physical self-improvement as something worthy of admiration rather than vanity.
“So if you can master your job, plus you’re charismatic, you speak well, you’re disciplined with your physique. Like when I see someone who has a nice physique, I’m not like, oh my God, his abs are nice. Like, no, this guy worked hard to have this shape or a woman, same thing. I don’t say, oh my God, she’s hot. I just say, good job for the work, you know?” he said.
Where Jourdain draws a firm line is at the more dangerous corners of the looksmaxxing world, where some young men have reportedly turned to PEDs at very early ages.
“So taking care of yourself, that looks maxing thing. Although there’s some points where I disagree, where taking m*th and peptides and st**oids when you’re 14 is like, come on, it’s a little bit out of touch with reality. But the point is taking care of your looks is quite important,” Jourdain said.
The athlete was candid about his own relaxed approach to the trend, delivering his perspective with characteristic self-awareness.
“But you see, I’m here with my Mohawk and my wife beater with apple, not what spaghetti sauce on it. I’m not looksmaxxing right now, but I’m bicepmaxxing. So it’s kind of balancing everything,” he said.
