Matthieu Charneau: Double Win for Physique Model of the Year

Matthieu Charneau may very well be the great unifier.

Yesterday, the results for Campaign of the Year were revealed: Kenneth Cole won the Golden Iris Award and Rufskin was the Reader’s Choice winner. Today, Charneau is the winner of the 2011 Golden Iris Award for Physique Model of the Year and—with 42% of the vote—is also the Reader’s Choice winner for the same category. We’ll find out on January 1st if the French pupcake is named Eye Candy Man of the Year as well.

So, what makes this 23-year-old lad so universally appealing?

Charneau’s wholesome face—complete with optimistic peepers and sweet smile—is exactly what you’d want to take home to mother. His unshaved swimmer’s physique, on the other hand, induces carnal lust in its purest and most passionate form. Shortly after being named Mister Gay 2011 by the readers of Têtu magazine, photos of the French pupcake went gay viral faster than a new Lady Gaga video. Mugler Creative Director Nicola Formichetti noticed, and put Charneau in his naughty fall campaign, which was banned on YouTube. Clothing line Slick It Up noticed too, and hired him to model its fetish gear. Now, Charneau is being credited with nudging along a growing trend that allows male models to bypass manscaping. But no matter how much he influences the look of other male models, there will always be only one, completely irreplaceable Matthieu Charneau.

Check out Charneau’s latest session by Pierre et Gilles-eque duo Exterface, featuring Matthew Zink.

View the final Reader's Choice voting results here.

Vote for Eye Candy's Man of the Year here.