Elliot Page has become the face of New York Magazine's inaugural Men's Style issue, but the unusual cover has already become a major talking point online. Rather than receiving universal praise for the actor's appearance, social media users have questioned the magazine's decision to use a shirtless image in which Page appears serious and somewhat uncomfortable.
The cover shows Page shirtless in blue striped shorts, leaning against a wooden door with his tattooed arms crossed. It forms part of an 89-page special issue built around men's fashion, health and culture, although the magazine has deliberately moved away from the conventional polished style associated with traditional men's fashion publications.
Why Are Fans Questioning Elliot Page's Cover?
The image quickly attracted attention after New York Magazine shared it online, with some viewers questioning whether it was the strongest photograph available for such a prominent cover.
One highly upvoted Reddit reaction described Page as looking 'tired and unmoisturized' and asked who had approved the image. Another commenter simply called him 'uncomfortable,' while others argued that the photograph did not capture him at his best.
Other commenters questioned why a men's style magazine would choose a photograph in which the subject is barely wearing any clothes.
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The Shoot Is Supposed To Be About More Than Fashion
The unusual cover makes more sense when viewed alongside the concept of the entire issue.
New York Magazine has described its first standalone Men's Style issue as a special publication about 'putting clothes on and taking them off again.' Instead of concentrating exclusively on conventional fashion photography, the issue explores men's culture through a mixture of fashion, health, personalities and narrative reporting.
Page appears in a feature titled 'The Boys in the Baths,' which takes place at the Russian & Turkish Baths in New York City's East Village. The shoot features several other men, including Troye Sivan, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Eddie Huang and others, with many photographed wearing minimal clothing.
Page Says He Enjoys the Bathhouse Experience
Page also discussed his growing appreciation for bathhouses as part of the feature.
'I went to a bathhouse recently,' he said, explaining that only in the past few years had he become interested in simply going somewhere and being comfortable in his body.
The comments give the shoot a more personal context. Rather than presenting Page in a conventional tailored fashion editorial, the feature appears designed around the atmosphere of the bathhouse and the idea of men being comfortable in a less formal environment.
Fans Say the Photo Does Not Show Page at His Best
Much of the online reaction has centred on the photograph's styling, expression and composition.
Some commenters said Page is attractive but argued that the particular image was a poor choice for a magazine cover. Others complained about his hairstyle, while several said the overall shoot appeared awkward or lacked the polished quality they expected from a style issue.
There were also people who defended the decision, suggesting that the unconventional photograph was precisely what made the cover different from a standard fashion magazine image.
The disagreement demonstrates how subjective magazine photography can be. A deliberately natural or unpolished image can be interpreted as artistic by one audience and simply unflattering by another.
The Cover Has Become Part of the Conversation
Page's appearance is also significant because he has become one of the most recognisable trans actors in Hollywood and has increasingly taken on male roles following his public transition.
The new cover comes after Page appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, further establishing his place in major Hollywood productions.
For New York Magazine, meanwhile, the debut Men's Style issue is an experiment in what a modern men's publication can look like. The publication has opted for four different covers and a broader editorial approach rather than relying on a conventional celebrity fashion shoot.
