2003 heralded the death of the beer-guzzling, Stubbie-wearing Aussie bloke with the rise and rise of the metrosexual. The fuss began in March when the M-word first appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. Ian Thorpe must have been ecstatic about the metrosexual fever which put an end to the gay-or-not debate, as Australian men were suddenly permitted an interest in fashion and toiletries Ñ menÕs cosmetics grew by 24% in 2001. This growing interest was further fuelled by the growth of titles in the menÕs lifestyle category, with GQ moving off the back of Vogue and gaining a solo spot on the newsstand four times a year. ACP launched MenÕs Style but editor Peter Holder claimed the magazine was anti-metrosexual and questioned whether metrosexuals ever existed. Holder believes that modern man wears moisturiser but never admits it to his mates. Network Ten would probably laugh in HolderÕs face after the ratings success of US show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the massive response to its search for an Australian Fab Five for the local production. The metrosexual moment of the year was South ParkÕs take on the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and metrosexuals, chanting: ÒWeÕre here, weÕre not queer, but weÕre close Ñ get used to it!Ó
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