People still argue about it. Honestly, every year when People Magazine drops that sparkly gold cover, the internet loses its collective mind, but the reaction to the sexiest man alive 2013 announcement was a different kind of loud. It wasn't just about the looks. It was about the shift in what "sexy" meant to the mainstream media at the start of the 2010s. For years, the title had been the playground of Hollywood A-listers—the George Clooneys and Brad Pitts of the world. Then came Adam Levine.
He was the first musician to snag the title. Ever.
Think about that for a second. Before 2013, the list was a revolving door of leading men who carried $100 million movie franchises. Levine was a guy who spent his nights behind a microphone or sitting in a big red swivel chair on The Voice. He had sleeves of tattoos when that was still considered "edgy" for a mainstream heartthrob. He was lean, yoga-obsessed, and possessed a falsetto that could shatter glass. Looking back, the sexiest man alive 2013 wasn't just a win for Maroon 5’s frontman; it was a pivot point for celebrity culture.
The Pop Star Era of Sexiest Man Alive 2013
Context is everything. In 2013, Adam Levine was everywhere. Maroon 5 was riding high on the success of Overexposed, and "Daylight" was blasting in every grocery store and dental office in America. But the real catalyst wasn't the music. It was NBC.
Levine had successfully transitioned from "rock star" to "household personality" through The Voice. He was charming. He was a bit of a brat in that playful, televised way. He had this bromance with Blake Shelton that viewers couldn't get enough of. When People Magazine named him the sexiest man alive 2013, they weren't just rewarding his face; they were acknowledging the power of reality television and the "relatable" celebrity.
He told People at the time that he was "startled and amazed" by the news. He even joked that he thought they were kidding. But the public wasn't kidding. While some corners of the internet were rooting for Idris Elba or Ryan Gosling (who, let's be real, has a fanbase that thinks he's the rightful heir every single year), Levine represented a specific type of California cool that dominated the zeitgeist.
He wasn't the brooding, untouchable actor. He was the guy who did yoga in his underwear and talked about his feelings on national TV.
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Breaking the Leading Man Mold
If you look at the winners immediately preceding 2013, the pattern is obvious. Channing Tatum in 2012. Bradley Cooper in 2011. Ryan Reynolds in 2010. These are "Big Screen" guys. They are the archetypal movie stars.
Levine broke the streak.
By picking the sexiest man alive 2013 from the music industry, People Magazine opened a door that stayed open. It paved the way for future non-actor winners like John Legend or Blake Shelton himself. It signaled that "sexy" was moving away from the silver screen and into our living rooms through streaming and weekly broadcasts.
The Controversy and the "Gosling Snub"
You can't talk about 2013 without talking about the fans who were genuinely upset. To this day, the "Gosling Snub" is a recurring meme in celebrity journalism. Ryan Gosling had just come off Drive and The Place Beyond the Pines. He was the internet's darling. When Levine was announced, a vocal portion of the public felt like the magazine had played it too safe by choosing a "safe" TV star.
But was he safe?
Actually, Levine was somewhat polarizing. He had a reputation for being incredibly confident—some called it cocky. He was dating supermodels (he was with Behati Prinsloo at the time, whom he later married). He wasn't the "boy next door." He was the "rock star next door." That distinction matters because it shifted the criteria for the title from who is the most handsome to who is the most talked about. The sexiest man alive 2013 crown was as much a marketing masterclass as it was a beauty pageant.
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What People Got Wrong About the 2013 Selection
A lot of critics argued that Levine didn't have the "gravitas" of a Sexiest Man Alive. They pointed to his fashion choices—lots of white t-shirts and skinny jeans—as being too trendy. But that was the point. 2013 was a year of peak hipster-adjacent mainstream culture.
- Tattoo Culture: Levine’s heavy ink was a major talking point. It transitioned tattoos from "rebellious" to "standard accessory for the modern man."
- Fitness Shifts: He was vocal about his transition from weightlifting to yoga, citing it as the reason for his lean physique. This actually influenced a lot of "men's health" conversations at the time.
- The Multi-Hyphenate: He wasn't just a singer; he was an entrepreneur and a TV personality. This became the new blueprint for stardom.
Why 2013 Still Matters Today
Looking back from over a decade away, the sexiest man alive 2013 issue feels like a time capsule. It captures a moment right before social media completely fractured our shared reality. Back then, we still had these massive, monocultural moments where everyone focused on a single magazine cover.
It also reminds us how much our standards for "celebrity" have evolved. Levine’s win was the first time the magazine really leaned into the "personality" aspect. They focused on his humor and his work ethic as much as his abs.
The 2013 list also included some names that have since become icons or faded away. It featured David Beckham (the perennial favorite), Idris Elba (who would finally win years later), and even some "surprise" picks like Luke Bryan. But Levine was the anchor. He was the guy who proved that if you had enough charisma and a prime-time TV slot, you could outrun the biggest movie stars in the world.
The Impact on Maroon 5
The "Sexiest Man Alive" title is often seen as a curse or a blessing for a career. For Levine, it was rocket fuel. Maroon 5’s "V" album, which followed shortly after, was a massive commercial success. The title cemented his status as a global brand. It wasn't just about the band anymore; it was about "Adam Levine," the entity.
He became a staple of fashion campaigns and late-night talk shows. He used the platform to talk about things like ADHD awareness, showing a layer of depth that his "pretty boy" image sometimes obscured.
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How to View the 2013 Title in Hindsight
Was he the sexiest man on the planet in 2013? Beauty is subjective, obviously. But was he the most relevant man in terms of the intersection of music, TV, and pop culture? Probably.
When you search for the sexiest man alive 2013, you aren't just looking for a name. You're looking for a specific vibe of the early 2010s—that era of neon lights, synth-pop, and the rise of the celebrity judge. Levine embodied that better than anyone else could have.
Next Steps for Celeb History Buffs:
If you’re interested in how the "Sexiest Man Alive" title has shifted over the years, the best thing to do is compare the 2013 coverage with the 1990s winners. You'll notice a massive shift in how the winners are interviewed. In the 90s, it was very much about "mystery." By 2013, it was all about "accessibility."
To get a real feel for the era, go back and watch the Maroon 5 "Love Somebody" music video, which was released right around that time. It’s a masterclass in the visual aesthetic that helped Levine secure the title: lots of paint, lots of artistic shots, and a very specific focus on the "man of the hour" persona.
Checking out the 2013 "runners up" list in the original People issue is also a trip. You'll see stars who were just beginning their ascent, giving you a great perspective on who the industry was betting on before they became the giants they are today.