This year’s People’s Sexiest Man Alive title has been awarded to actor Jonathan Bailey. Bailey is the first openly gay man to receive the title.
This announcement has been met with great excitement from his past co-stars and fans. Bailey’s recognition marks a milestone for LGBTQIA+ representation and reflects a growing shift toward inclusivity in Hollywood. His win celebrates attractiveness but also authenticity, confidence and evolving definitions of masculinity.
The big reveal
On Monday, Nov. 3, the “Bridgerton” actor was revealed as this year’s 2025 star on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Surprised but grateful, Bailey described the recognition as an “honor,” adding that he had only shared the news with his dog, Benson.
In an interview with Forbes, Bailey shared his excitement at the opportunity.
“I grew up being very inspired by sexy men, and by that, I mean also a lot of people who have shifted the way that we understand ourselves in society,” Bailey said. “Of course, there was no way I wasn’t going to step into that corner this year, when the opportunity arose.”
Bailey’s advocacy for the LGBTQ community
The Emmy nominee and “Wicked” star founded The Shameless Fund in 2024, which raises money to support the LGBTQ community through brand collaborations.
As shared on the organization’s website, the money raised is used to help non-profit organizations, and to “forge a world where every LGBTQ+ person can live authentically, love freely and thrive without the burdens of discrimination, oppressions or shame.”
Through his acting, Bailey continues to contribute to fundraising for his organization. In his role as Dr. Henry Loomis in “Jurassic World Rebirth,” he leaned into the popularity that arose from the glasses he wore as the character, Bailey shared with Forbes. In a partnership with a British company, Cubitts, the actor sold similar eyeglasses to raise funds for his mission.
This recognition holds deep meaning for Bailey, viewing it as a moment of shared joy and progress.
“I know what it means, you know, for me — for little me — and also, for a lot of people out there,” Bailey said in his Forbes interview. “It’s a celebratory moment for a lot of people.”
