Holy Jessie Pavelka Batman!

Readers of Adonis Complex (or astute newcomers) have either seen me admit my lack of knowledge of particular models or have noticed it; indeed, the Adonis Complex blogs don't seek to promote or endorse anyone in particular, or usually even to be aware of that stuff - I'm just sharing the pretty pictures I've collected with what has grown to be quite a number of fellow aestheticians on the web. I actually have a terrible time with names in general; I can barely remember everyone's name at work, much less the men in these pictures whom I've never met and never will. And even if I was the Ken Jennings of names, I think I'm probably still just secretly jealous enough inside that promoting or idolizing those in the industry of physical perfection every day would make me feel very unpretty indeed. It's hard enough writing a blog about pop music when you still hide a faint desire to win American Idol.


So naturally a guy would have to be quite something for me to break all those habits and rules. In fact, I've only done it twice before on Adonis Complex, with James Ellis and Michael Radon: two incredible studs and incredible models I very gladly go publicly gaga over. And today I'm adding another to the list: the fantastic Jessie Pavelka.


If that name is sounding kind of familiar to you and you're not sure why, it's probably because his cousin Jake Pavelka is the titular rose doler-outer of the current season of The Bachelor. But even if you haven't heard his name as much, you've probably seen Jessie before somewhere (I know I'd seen him for a long time and when I heard a J. Pavelka I assumed, considering my ability with names, that the new Bachelor was to be this hunk (which is perhaps the only way Jake could end up seeming less than gorgeous himself: when someone who gets Jake was expecting Jessie). No, Jessie is actually the trainer on Lifetime's weight loss reality show DietTribe, now in its second season, and he's recently launched his own website, www.jessiepavelka.com, although if you're looking for more modeling shots you'll need to seek elsewhere, as his site wisely devotes itself mainly to the nutritional, fitness and weight loss efforts and communities (far more loyal than modeling fans could ever be, and a hell of a lot nicer too, so I don't blame him!).

One of the reasons I don't focus on the models on this blog or elsewhere is that in my experience, they tend to be, well, big ol' jerks, or at the very least, self-absorbed to a patronizing extent. Of course, when you're beautiful you don't need to be nice, and nowadays I kind of dismiss that as the nature of the breed. However, on the rare occasions that I come across a model who a. interests me enough to learn anything about him at all, much less get an idea of personality, and b. still appears to be a stand-up, decent guy with a genuinely good heart, the way Jessie Pavelka does (and I suspect five or ten minutes poking around the internet about him would likely give anyone the same impression). Plus, of course, he's hot as hell.






Jessie's Official site; Myspace; Facebook Fan page.

Atomic Number 86

You may recall a few weeks back when I gushed about just how highly I thought of blond fitness model James Ellis (at the time serving his stint as the Beverly Center's "Hunky Santa"), and you may also know or have gathered that I know of few models enough to remember their names, much less purposefully amass any sort of sizeable collection of their work with enough examples to fill a post by themselves (considering at Adonis Complex you always get four or five samples per post!). Well, this chap, Michael Radon, is another of the rare exceptions, and also one of the few non-blondes to capture my sensitivities thus (I have nothing against dark- or ginger-haired men, being one myself; blonde hair, however, has been my aesthetic Achilles heel as long as I can remember, along with pectoral muscles and eyeglasses. Yes, I'm serious). He's quite versatile, and I've only happened upon one shoot in which he was styled in a way I found less than fully appealing - and really it was just that his hair was too long and oddly spiked for my taste.




More on Michael Radon.


Twelve points to whomever gets the post title.

(I'd Be a) Ho Ho Ho for James Ellis

When you're a gay mid-20s enthusiast of the male physique who runs a set of photoblogs on said topic and has always had a particular weakness for blondes, then James Ellis is someone with whom you're rather familiar. Seeing as blondes are a dying breed (especially in the modelling world, which currently prefers the dark, glam Mediterranean look for men), and also just how fantastic he looks regardless, I likely have collected more shots of Ellis over the years than any other single person with the possible exception of Michael Phelps, and even then it would be close.


So imagine my excitement to hear that Ellis would be taking on the position of "Hunky Santa" at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, a tradition now in its ninth year. Advocate.com did a nice short piece on his apparent welcoming of whomever wanted the standard photo offering involving sitting on the knee a very different kind of Santa, whether said sitter be male, female, young, old, or whatnot (he is, of course, straight) - apparently a bit of a break from the earlier years of the program, which catered mainly to women. Well, it is West Hollywood, after all, so I'd think that would be a wise attitude to take in a business such as his...but all that aside, how much did I want to go out there and get a snapshot of myself on the lap of easily one of my favorite models? Here's a hint: enough to be pretty bummed that it's Christmas Eve and I am not the owner of such a fantastic photograph. Oh well...maybe someday.


I mean, look!
He's just such a ridiculous winner in the genetic lottery to begin with, not to mention the eons beyond intense fitness regimen he follows - in essence, he's much like the best performing artists, who while they may have been blessed with exceptional natural qualities to begin with also put in as much or more work and effort in as anyone, rather than resting lazily on their inherited talents. And you'll see if you ever scan around some of the other sites like mine online, or modeling agency portfolios that Ellis is in fact one of the more active, well-known and successful fitness models in the business. And now Hunky Santa! To him I raise a glass and give a hearty "ho ho ho" of affection. To you I give the joy of a little more James Ellis gorgeousness.

I remember one site felt the need to write that Ellis is originally from the Midwest, which I felt was kind of like including an explanation of the Pope being a devout Catholic. Duh, look at him! Where else would he be from?

He even outshines Jessie Pavelka (left)!

See tons more at his Myspace page. And I hate Myspace and never link there, so that should show you how much I approve of this exceptional model.