“I chose LeBron,” 17-year-old Jackson tells us when we ask him which of our male celebrities – including stars from Jacob Elordi to George Clooney – represents a traditional embodiment of masculinity. “He’s a great athlete; strong, fit, successful at what he does. And I think that kind of represents the traditional understanding of masculinity.”

Masculinity means many different things to different people, but one thing is clear to all of the teens participating in SheKnows’ ongoing series “Be a Man”: changing views on traditional masculinity.

Traditional masculinity places emphasis on physical strength, as 19-year-old Lincoln notes when he cites Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as an example of stereotypical masculinity. “It’s all in the name, isn’t it?” he says. “He’s very masculine and he’s loud. I mean, he kind of flaunts his strength.”

However, when selecting celebrities these teenagers want to emulate, physical fitness and brute strength are not the main considerations.

Jackson, for example, chooses Timothée Chalamet as the star he wants to be like. He explains: “I think he has style, he’s a good actor, he’s comfortable in his own skin. I feel like he’s very independent and has his own unique style and charisma.”

Xavier, 17, does not admire Ryan Reynolds for his physical strength in films such as Dead Pool or Green Lantern but because he seems to be a “really genuine, nice guy.”

Lincoln also singles out Kumail Ali Nanjiani’s gentle, friendly nature as something to emulate. “He’s just very charming, and he’s also quite a goofball in his own way,” he notes. “He’s endearing in a way that I find very comforting.”

When it comes to who Generation Z has crushes on, it’s the teenagers named Elordi, Chalamet, Jeremy Allen White, Michael B. Jordan, and Paul Mescal, all of whom appear on lists of the names of “internet friends” who just hang out with TikTok users.

The guys note that these celebrities are known for being “sincere” and, in Mescal’s case, “tough but sensitive” – ​​more adjectives that promote a broader perspective on what masculinity can look like. While some critics may call for “bringing back masculine men,” these guys don’t seem to be deterred from having a more diverse vision of masculinity – and that’s a good thing.

Click before you go to see the best teen movies of all time.