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| Five years later, People Magazine picks British actor Idris Elba as their "Sexiest Man Alive." He will join two other men of color gracing that tabloid. |
Idris Elba was finally picked as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
Damn, how long did this take?
Yeah, I am cynical about the choice. It could have been five years ago when me and SB covered this controversy. However, People Magazine heard the concern. Trust me, we were vocal.
After years of watching white men grace that tabloid, some started to notice something, "Why are all the pretty faces gracing the cover ALWAYS White?"
Elba joins Denzel Washington and Dwayne Johnson as the only men of color to grace that tabloid.
PEOPLE Magazine Picked A Person Of Color As Their Sexiest Man Alive. Is This The Beginning Of Change For The Tabloid? (Expect the dumbest answers picked by trolls)
The actor was an only child who grew up in the neighborhoods of Hackney, London. Elba is an actor, music producer, singer, kickboxer, director, DJ and father to two children.
He is an amazing talent and finally People decided to acknowledge his accomplishments as a face of color who inspires millions of young Brits and Americans.
Elba became People Magazine's 33rd Sexiest Man Alive, joining a long list of Hollywood’s hottest, starting with a then-29-year-old Mel Gibson in 1985 to last year's pick Blake Shelton.
Who'd have thought it! Thank you @people & all the fans for naming me #SexiestManAlive. Don't forget to grab your issue this week https://t.co/WI7eWfXOPB. I'm honoured & thankful. What’s even more important is your vote in the midterm elections. Your vote can make a difference!👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/TBQapjxJsT— Idris Elba (@idriselba) November 6, 2018
Though he was an athlete at his all-boys school in London, playing first-string football, basketball, cricket, hockey and rugby, the actor insists he went through an awkward phase first. "I was very tall and skinny," says the 6’3" Elba. "And my name was Idrissa Akuna Elba, okay? I got picked on a little bit. But as soon as I could grow a mustache, I was the coolest kid on the block. Grew a mustache, had some muscles, bonkers."
When he's not being one of Hollywood's brightest stars, Elba might be deejaying in Ibiza, kickboxing in Thailand, or designing his own clothing line, not to mention planning his wedding to his fiancée Sabrina Dhowre, 29, a model, to whom he proposed in February. But picking the happiest moment of his life is easy."Being witness to the birth of my children is the biggest and best thing ever," says Elba, who has a 16-year-old daughter, Isan, and a 4-year-old son, Winston (both from previous relationships). "I'm super doting, big hugs, kisses, lots of love-yous. I'm sure my daughter's like, 'All right Dad, chill out.' My son is still at that age where he loves a cuddle."
As for making a connection, Elba has learned the importance of "eye contact and empathy. You know, sort of reading someone's vibe," he says. "I love being confident, but also I know when to rein it in and just stay humble and grounded."
For now, the actor strives to live with as few regrets as possible. "Life isn’t about thinking about what you should have done," adds Elba, who is currently shooting the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw with former Sexiest Man Alive Dwayne Johnson. "I think everyone should adopt the philosophy that tomorrow is not promised so just go for it today, man. You might as well do it to your heart’s content."
So here's the list of winners.
| Year | Choice | Age |
|---|---|---|
| February 4, 1985 | Mel Gibson | 29 |
| January 27, 1986 | Mark Harmon[23] | 34 |
| March 30, 1987 | Harry Hamlin | 35 |
| September 12, 1988 | John F. Kennedy, Jr. | 27 |
| December 16, 1989 | Sean Connery | 59 |
| July 23, 1990 | Tom Cruise | 28 |
| July 22, 1991 | Patrick Swayze | 38 |
| March 16, 1992 | Nick Nolte | 51 |
| October 19, 1993 | Richard Gere (1) and Cindy Crawford[24] (Sexiest Couple Alive) | 44 |
| January 30, 1995 | Brad Pitt (1) | 31 |
| July 29, 1996 | Denzel Washington | 41 |
| November 17, 1997 | George Clooney (1) | 36 |
| November 16, 1998 | Harrison Ford | 56 |
| November 15, 1999 | Richard Gere (2) | 50 |
| November 13, 2000 | Brad Pitt (2) | 36 |
| November 26, 2001 | Pierce Brosnan | 48 |
| December 2, 2002 | Ben Affleck | 30 |
| December 1, 2003 | Johnny Depp (1) | 40 |
| November 29, 2004 | Jude Law | 31 |
| November 28, 2005 | Matthew McConaughey[25] | 36 |
| November 27, 2006 | George Clooney (2)[26] | 45 |
| November 26, 2007 | Matt Damon[27] | 37 |
| November 25, 2008 | Hugh Jackman[28] | 40 |
| November 18, 2009 | Johnny Depp (2)[29] | 46 |
| November 17, 2010 | Ryan Reynolds[30] | 34 |
| November 16, 2011 | Bradley Cooper[31] | 36 |
| November 14, 2012 | Channing Tatum[32] | 32 |
| November 19, 2013 | Adam Levine[33] | 34 |
| November 19, 2014 | Chris Hemsworth[34] | 31 |
| November 17, 2015 | David Beckham[35] | 40 |
| November 15, 2016 | Dwayne Johnson[36] | 44 |
| November 27, 2017 | Blake Shelton[37] | 41 |
| November 5, 2018 | Idris Elba | 46 |
| 1994 (awarded on November 18, 2015) | Keanu Reeves | 30 (at the time) |
Cause I see only three men of color on that list.
We have to do better. Given we are living in the age of Donald J. Trump, I swear it's going to get worse.
We have to dust ourselves off and fight again. Fight for change and resist white male privilege and the status quo. The folks at People Magazine, local law enforcement agencies, the Republican Party and the uneducated white voter are a danger to people of color.
It's time to motivate. We got two years to get back in action. I know it's going to be a hard fight. But we're in this to win.
Trump is likely going to win in 2020. It's up to you and I to prevent it.
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