Determining the Sexiest Man Alive

Everyone wants to know who the sexiest man alive is. We have this desire to put people in top ten lists, and the desire to find out who is incredibly attractive based on muscular bodies and pretty faces. We buy magazines off the shelves just for the hot model on the cover.

Millions of dollars are spent each year, billions even, in finding out what the American public (and the rest of the world) will desire in a model, in a television star, in a Hollywood movie star. What do we desire? Who do we want to look at? What makes the sexiest man alive sexy?

You won't have any trouble finding a magazine with a list of the top ten sexiest men of the year, or the hottest man of the year, or the sexiest woman of the year. Because this is what sells.

My question to you is, is there more to what sells than just the image? Is there more than just the picture of the person cast on the screen? Do we really also consider the person's personality, and what the person has done?

Paris Hilton may be a beautiful woman, if you just look at her pretty face and her body. But when you get to know her, and how much trouble she gets into, and how shallow her personality might be, then is she as attractive?

I have made a list of the top ten sexiest men alive, based on looks and body, but also on what the person is like, what type of a person they are, and what they have done for the world. Sexiness and attraction are not based on looks alone, at least in my book.

1. Jake Gylenhaal. Jake Gylenhaal no doubt will be on many top ten sexiest man alive lists for his gorgeous blue eyes and dark complexion, as well as for his body. But, there is much more to him. What makes me put him at the top of the list is for other reasons as well. Jake Gylenhaal played a gay guy in the movie Brokeback Mountain. To me, this showed that he can be deep, and has a strong sense of character. He really knows himself and has confidence in himself, otherwise he could never have pulled of such a role. Jake Gylenhaal seems to star in movies that show his diversity, not just doing the same type of movie all the time. Jarhead showed his serious side, whereas Donnie Darko showed his psychotic? side. All of these put together equal an incredibly sexy human being in Jake Gylenhaal.

2.Apolo Anton Ohno. This is a person who has dedicated himself to being great. This is what sexy is all about. He puts himself to the test with whatever he does. He won the World Cup in skating for the 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m events. He was the first American to win a World Cup. Then, when Apolo became one of the stars on Dancing with the Stars Season Four, he gave this his all as well. He ended up winning! Not only is he physically fit and attractive, but he also shows his strength by committing to his goals.

3.Kevin Costner. Kevin Costner to me is just a great all around guy. He generally always plays the good guy in movies, and he plays the roles well. What placed him on number 3 for me was his role in the movie Dragonfly. Yes, I realize he was acting in the role, but he showed how far someone will go if they care about and believe in their loved ones. He would go to the end of the world, and risk being killed. Maybe it's part his roles that give him his sexiness factor, but the blue eyes help. His kindness is his overall winning trait. You also have to give him credit for being an older star that still can be quite physically and mentally attractive.

4. Johnny Depp. What can I say? Johnny Depp is attractive in every way. He has incredibly good looks, he is a diverse actor, and he exudes mysteriousness. Johnny Depp does really have a dark side, plagued by problems as a teen and accusations of drug use and dealing at his Viper Room nightclub. However, he overcomes these things, and becomes a great actor. Perhaps it takes a troubled youth to rise to the ability to take on some of the roles he has, such as Ichabod Crane in Legend of Sleepy Hollow and split personality character in Secret Window.

5. Maksim Chmerkovskiy. We all know Maksim Chmerkovskiy as one of the professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars. Yes, in the eyes of many women, Maksim is a heart throb. But do you know what he did to get to where he is? As a teenager, Maksim had a bad skiing accident which took many surgeries and lots of physical therapy to help. Determined not to be handicapped, he continued to pursue his dancing career. He even moved to the United States with his whole family to achieve this goal. Look where he is now, as a coach for other dancers at Rising Stars Dance Academy which he owns, and as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. What is incredibly sexy about him is his care about children. He is on the board of directors for Dance Team USA, which inspires and gives opportunities to youth in the field of dancing.

6.Seal. Seal has incredible passion, which is evident in his voice. His voice is unbelievable, the way he can express emotion and carry a note. Although he might not be as physically attractive as some of the people on this list, he holds his own with these other traits. There is so much to Seal that many people don't know. He has talents as an electrical enginner and has designed leather clothing. He is multi-talented.

7. Adam Brody. What isn't sexy about a nerd who can make you laugh? You just have to love Adam Brody, star of Fox's The OC. He may not have big muscles, or baby blue eyes, but he is so nice and cute and cuddly. Any girl would love to curl up next to him. A sense of humor is also big in traits of sexiness. He's a favorite for me.

8. Adrien Brody. Adrien Brody is different. He doesn't have the typical good looks of many of the sexiest men alive according to magazines and the like. He has an alternative look, an ethnic look, if you will. Although he isn't the stereotypical sexy, he really shows his sexiness in his own style. He is amazingly well dressed, and a well-rounded guy overall. I think he has great depth of character, and is a bit of a philospher at heart. He, like Maksim Chmerkovskiy, was injured badly in an accident and took a long time recooperating. I can really relate to Adrien Brody, his mysteriousness, his striving to better himself, and his desire to understand the world.

9. Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise has lost alot of his fervor over recent years, based on his statements and beliefs regarding Scientology. I personally wish so many people wouldn't criticize him and would see him for what he has given over the years. His sexiest role for me was in the movie All the Right Moves, where he had to grow as a person and realize the world didn't just revolve around him. Everyone adores his part in Risky Business- of course he was sexy there. What also makes Tom Cruise sexy is that he is willing to stand up for what he believes in, despite what others say about him. This is truly sexy, for me. I don't necessarily believe that he took the right approach to how he stood up for himself, and I don't necessarily agree with his beliefs, but at least he is willing to demonstrate that he doesn't follow the leader and go with his heart.

10. Matthew McConnaughey. I have to put one person on here just for their good looks, don't I? Perhaps not. There is more to Matthew McConnaughey than just his charm as well. Matthew McConnaughey caught my attention in the movie How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days. I saw in this movie that he really did have a sensitive side, even though it took the whole movie for it to come out. I like to hope that all guys have this side within them- it just needs to come out. His role in the movie A Time To Kill also was sexy. He was willing to fight for a cause, even at personal expense. He takes on diverse roles in his movies, which shows me that there is more to him than just meets the eye.