The annual search for the next Men’s Health Ultimate Guy has begun. We’re looking for guys who don’t just embody a high level of physical fitness, but also take care of their mental and emotional health, and provide an inspiring example to others in their personal and professional lives.
Past winners have included firefighter Tim Boniface, emergency medic Jedidiah Ballard, and veteran Noah Galloway, all of whom shared compelling stories of how a passion for fitness helped them change their lives for the better. Galloway “rebuilt” himself after losing his left arm and leg in Iraq, while Boniface dedicated himself to helping his fellow firefighters reduce their risk of cardiac arrest (a leading cause of death in the profession).
In 2022, the Ultimate Guy winner was Army veteran Corwyn Collier, who survived an IED explosion and throughout the process of his recovery discovered a love of fitness, eventually entering men’s physique competitions. “When somebody says I’m disabled, I feel like they’re putting me in a box. I don’t feel I’m in that box,” Collier told Men’s Health. “If I fail, I’m gonna figure out how to conquer it. It may take a little while, but I will figure it out.”
His fellow finalists were climber and adventurer Felipe Proaño, and Manhattan podiatrist, My Feet Are Killing Me star, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Dr. Brad Schaeffer.
The Ultimate Guy contest aims to find men who are committed to being the best versions of themselves they can possibly be and living “stronger, faster, better.” And that opportunity extends to anyone who meets that set of criteria: in 2015, transgender fitness model Aydian Dowling was a finalist.
Entering the contest is simple. We just need three high quality pictures that showcase your physique and a little bit of your personality, and three short 100-word essays explaining why you believe you fit the bill for Ultimate Guy, encompassing anything you think might be of interest. (We’re only looking for entries from the United States, just FYI.)
The winner of the title of Ultimate Guy will then get their own feature in the December issue of the magazine.
Think you’ve got what it takes to win the title? Apply here.
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
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