Meet Zach Miko, the plus-size male influencer challenging stereotypes around men’s beauty standards
Have you ever thought about how social media impacts what it means to be a man in today’s world? In this episode of ITK: Behind the Screens, our host Niamh Adkins (@niamhadkins) dives into it. The topic of men’s beauty standards in the digital realm often stays in the shadows, so Niamh connects with plus-size male model and content creator Zach Miko (@zachmiko) to help shed light on the topic.
Zach is on a personal mission to challenge the narrow stereotypes around men’s beauty standards on social media. He creates body-positive and body-neutral content geared towards spreading positivity through his platform.
What got you into making body positivity content?
For one, I didn’t know I was allowed to have a positive self-image, period. I was never told it was okay to look like me. I wanted to be something that young guys could look to — just someone to tell them that they’re doing okay, that they are okay. And that no matter the size or the shape of their body, they’re still a valid human being with a whole plethora of thoughts and feelings and experiences and values. And it doesn’t come down to the shape of their body.
What expectations and beauty standards do men encounter online?
Every guy that is online has that old mentality that they absolutely need a ripped six-pack, big arms, really defined chest. That’s the image we grew up with, that’s the image that was on every magazine, that was in every movie, in every action thing. And [we think] when we don’t look that way, then clearly there’s something wrong with us. And that permeated its way online, definitely.
How do you think the rise of social media has impacted those already-existing beauty standards?
It’s another way for the industry that can make money off of your insecurities to reach you. However, the body positivity movement started online. So if it wasn’t for social media, I know I personally wouldn’t know what body positivity was, I personally wouldn’t know that I was allowed to feel good about myself. So it’s kind of a yin and a yang, where as many tools as social media gives the people trying to make you insecure for money, it also gives you tools to combat that.
Watch the latest installment of ITK: Behind the Screens to hear more of Niamh’s conversation with Zach.
In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News — follow us here!
The post Meet Zach Miko, the plus-size male influencer challenging stereotypes around men’s beauty standards appeared first on In The Know.
More from In The Know:
I'm a shopping expert, and these are the Amazon fall fashion arrivals worth buying in November
Meet the Native Changemakers panelists
I didn't know I needed insulated pajamas until I tried these pants, and I'm forever changed
