THE EVOLUTION OF THE ALPHA MALE AESTHETIC.

The article traces the evolution of the "alpha male" aesthetic from 19th-century bodybuilder Eugen Sandow to today's social media influencers. Topics include how bodybuilding became a performance of masculinity, the shift from power suits to metrosexual slim-fit styles, and how modern podcasters like Joe Rogan repackaged these ideals for digital platforms. Also examined is how these visual trends reflect cultural anxieties about gender roles and self-optimization in an era of social media.