”Kroppshetsen drabbar även pojkar – de förbises”

Looksmaxxing is an online self-improvement practice focused on the process of maximizing one's physical attractiveness. The term is a neologism which was coined on incel message boards in the 2010s. Previously, the phrase had limited usage on obscure internet forums, but was popularized on TikTok by primarily male content creators in the early 2020s. The term has commonly been associated with the black pill ideology, which espouses that female sexual selection is primarily based on external physical qualities such as height and attractiveness, while qualities such as kindness and personality are ignored or even cause rejection. Looksmaxxing is very broad in the methods used to improve appearance; they can range from benign practices such as skincare routines and gym use, to more extreme interventions, such as invasive cosmetic surgery and usage of anabolic steroids. Commentators generally criticize the concept as being judgemental and harmful to its practitioners (‘looksmaxxers’). Communities and influencers associated with the practice are described as rating individual's appearance without concern for their overall well-being which can lead to negative mental health outcomes such as body dysmorphia and suicidal ideation. The increasing popularity of the concept has also led to concerns over its potential to promote hegemonic masculinity.