Eye Candy Midterms: Physique Model of the Year

What's the difference between a fashion model and a physique model? Sometimes nothing. Typically though, physique models are the guys we see on fitness magazine covers (which were taken over by celebs this year), and in ads for non-designer underwear and swimwear. They generally have beefier builds and are shorter in stature than other models, which makes crossing over into high fashion or runway work rare. But the 2010 midterms include a higher percentage of traditional fashion models, which is due to the fact that the fashion world has exposed a lot more male flesh this year.

The bare bods trend could be a side effect of the sluggish global economy (skin sells), or perhaps companies are just getting more comfortable marketing directly to gay men. Whatever the reason, we are the beneficiaries, because there's so much more of the world's most stunning men to savor. And these sexy studs have made their biggest impact this year from undressing, rather than dressing up.

Check out the nominees and vote for your fave!

Ryan Bertroche

Former farm boy Ryan Bertroche kicked off 2010 as the hot face and bod of Ocean underwear. But what really made everyone stand up and take notice of his classic good looks were the fiercely sexy ads for Frankie Morello (left). Even The New York Times was impressed, and snatched Ryan for a Richard Phibbs swimsuit editorial (right). If the Iowan native keeps this up, he should have no problem making the final list of nominees come December.

Miguel Iglesias

Though he began the year looking handsome and dapper in editorials for the Spanish edition of Esquire, the gigs were not standout enough to make Miguel Iglesias a contender for Fashion Model of the Year. So, the 2009 Fashion Model OTY nominee stripped down, strutted his stuff, and stole the shows at Fashion Week in Milan (right) and Paris. A smart move, since Miguel has just about the best V to the P in the biz. 

Doug Porter

Doug Porter has been flying low on the beefcake radar for several years. But in 2010, the 6'3" stud has wowed us with jaw-dropping editorials for FHM Collections, Out, and Slurp (right). Factor in his impossibly sexy ad for Polo underwear (left), and you have a model worthy of our full and complete attention.

Arthur Sales

Yes, Arthur Sales is a top fashion model, but his flawless skin and eight pack abs almost always get the Brazilian babe booked for shirtless gigs—like the playful Butch underwear and swimwear campaign (right). But what really made 2010 a landmark year for the nineteen-year-old were the shirtless L'Officiel Hommes cover and 200 pages of editorial the French fashion magazine's March/April issue devoted to him.

Allen Walker

With the exception of River Viiperi, newbie Allen Walker has racked up more pages views in the Hottie Hub than any other model in 2010. Quite an impressive feat, considering he's booked just one high-profile editorial gig this year (for Out). Based on his popularity here, the first casting director to book this all-American hunk for an underwear campaign is guaranteed a handsome return.

Click here to vote on the other categories!