Aesthetics In Bodybuilding *WHO LOOKS THE BEST?*

[@mvyper]

Everybody talking about Arnold's chest but, for me, Serge's was just as impressive.

[@keithlilly6242]

Serge had a killer upper body. In pumping iron I thought he was neck and neck with Arnold

[@mvyper]

@@keithlilly6242 and had a better v taper. But Arnold was always Weider's golden boy.

[@jetmirselimi8944]

Serge had aesthetics arnold could only dream of

[@menknurlan]

Serge had a thick chest but it wasnt as wide/squarish as Arnolds. Arnold just had a massive frame structure that gave him that super wide squarish chest which he also grow super thick

[@joebananas1088]

Yes thats right 🤔👍

[@ondrejpaterna2662]

That kozo sudo is absolutely amazing

[@kuriosites]

I think Shawn Ray had one of the greatest physiques of all time. He was full and conditioned enough to stand next to the mass monsters but with very classic lines. Unfortunately, his lack of height was a disadvantage, too. I'd like to see bodybuilding go that way. As far as who I'd like to look like, probably Steve Reeves; his looks and structure were so amazing that you can't replicate with PED's.

[@bobjohnson1633]

He had shitty rectangle quads and narrow lats.

[@genohero6139]

FLEX WHEELER?

[@housesports000]

@@bobjohnson1633 if he had "shitty rectangle quads" then so did Frank Zane too huh? Aesthetics is also based on proportion, and Steve Reeves hit the mark on it in terms of the ideal body proportions

[@mikea5205]

Serge is the absolute king of aesthetics.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

Arnold is the king of bicep's and chest, otherwise he wasn't as impressive, as most people want him to be, he had a lean waist BUT, he had no abs and wide a** hips, Serge Nubret had smaller bicep's and chest, BUT his upper back, shoulder's and core, is something Arnold could only achieve, in his dream's let's face it, Arnold was Joe's money Bag, Arnold knew that he didn't deserve all his olympia's.

[@juanprc10]

Steve Reeves and Bob Paris are still the pinnacle as far as classic aesthetics are concerned. Early Flex Wheeler was probably the most aesthetic from a pure bodybuilding standpoint.

[@Underhills]

I second that. Would include Francis Benfatto. And alltough Arnold was a mass monster of his age he's pretty darn aesthetic compared to BB's today. He could look great without striking a pose.

[@tats91430]

Kozo Sudo had one of the best set of abs of all time. And he was natural. If you don't believe then just don't believe.

[@panathatube]

Chris Dickerson came out AFTER he stopped bodybuilding. Bob Paris during his career. And that's a major difference...

[@megaman7954]

It was very well known that Chris Dickerson was gay before he won his mr Olympia title.

[@stevegeorge6880]

@@megaman7954 it was whispered within the industry, but not so much outside it. That's why Bob Paris didn't identify Chris Dickerson in his memoir The Gorilla Suit. It didn't take much of a process of elimination at that point however given that the other mr. Olympia's had had girlfriends and wives publicly, and Paris was saying that one of these is not like the others.

[@stevegeorge6880]

If it had been known widely that Chris Dickerson was gay, he probably wouldn't have gotten the title. For Joe Weider, it was all about marketability to a mainstream.

[@odessafile75]

It was widely known. In fact at the 1980 Mr Olympia promoter and Arnold buddy Paul Graham made disparaging remarks about Dickerson being gay. Regarding Joe Weider he also was a closeted gay with Betty Weider as his " Beard"

[@panathatube]

@@odessafile75 Keeping pretences often matters.

[@kaleandoscope]

The perfect balance between aesthetics and size/bodybuilding were Thierry Pastel, Shawn Ray, Charles Clairmonte, Flex Wheeler and Kevin Levrone (especially early on in their careers). As for aesthetics alone it has to be Serge, Frank, Sergio Oliva Sr. and Brian Buchanan! That waist has got to be the smallest ever on a frame that size.

[@ytsux9259]

You neglected to include CBum, the 2-time Mr O in the aesthetic division?

[@TheBlindSwordsman]

@@ytsux9259 No neglect, just their opinion.

[@kaleandoscope]

@@ytsux9259 I mentioned bodybuilders, not Classic Physique competitors.

[@ashikmd.rashid6284]

Paul Dillet.

[@OldschoolHIT360]

I thought Kevin Levrone looked phenomenal, he totally could’ve been the Mr O if not for the fact he competed during the mass monster era

[@griffinhatt4669]

good vid marx always love the history type bodybuilding vids have a good day

[@phamchithien]

shawn ray has the perfect balance between every body parts, truely a great physics

[@jeffreylocke8808]

Steve Reeves was who inspired me in his Hercules and Hercules Unchained movies. As a natural bodybuilder I am impressed that he won Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe.

[@giovannyc3886]

Haven't seen it yet. I pick Francis Benfatto as the most aesthetic ever.

[@rossscarbro4602]

Man what an awesome video I really am loving your material more and more. I can watch stuff like this all day long

[@tonybell404]

Vids 3 minutes old so I haven't seen the full vid yet but to me the most aesthetic choice for myself is flex wheeler arnolds 1993

[@marxmaxmuscle1]

15:33 Melvin Anthony, I stand corrected

[@zakariaott]

Flex will be forever be my favorite aesthetic bodybuilder.

[@lilyeeezyyyy]

Pastel's arms, calves, abs... holy shit

[@animargaming2979]

I know this was specifically about men's open, but we should at least make a shout out to CBum and the Classic Physique division

[@juansalas7693]

I met serge nubret a few decades ago during a seminar. I've never seen such a beautiful physic, he was magnificent.

[@LordWout]

I think Thierry Pastel flew under the radar because he was so short. But he was definitely aesthetic. Look at those abs, I think luimarco described them as tennis balls

[@BTT72genX]

His neck was also thin, and it threw his aesthetics off.

[@genohero6139]

FLEX WHEELER?

[@paulbunyan9436]

I can make a solid argument for myself having the greatest physique of all time. I mean, just look at me in a suit.💯

[@griffinhatt4669]

fr no cap

[@paulbunyan9436]

@@griffinhatt4669 Thanks bro. I'm 6;2" 195 lbs. Just light weights and shooting my basketball. No drugs, all natural, no pain in my joints. All about longevity...

[@SIenderplier]

Honorable modern mention in my eyes, Lionel Beyeke, especially when he was smaller.

[@HEAVYCHEVY409]

A young Cedric McMillan and Patrick as well

[@dontreadmyname4396]

6:09 this looks amazing

[@abbeybremner4162]

Wow. Thank you so much for that beautiful compilation, Great selection and effort on you part.

[@anaussie213]

Yep back in the mid 2000s when I got into bodybuilding aesthetics were dead. I had to look back at nubret, Zane and reeves to physiques I personally thought looked good and wanted for myself (and with my wide clavicles, narrow hips and small joints I was always far more of an aesthetic over mass type). I also thought Nubret was the pinnacle of aesthetics.

[@marioultimateart90]

I can't believe you've missed your favorite Bodybuilder Robby Robinson on the list of most Aesthetic Bodybuilders but maybe was on purpose,by the way the Snowman ⛄ Bob had me dying 😂

[@marxmaxmuscle1]

Robby had what I call an incredible physique. Eye popping, like tom platz or sergio oliva, or even lee haney

[@vegarseljenes9909]

​@@marxmaxmuscle1 You really put some thought behind your content and response. Impressed 👍

[@fishing4happiness610]

I remember watching PUMPING IRON as a kid and wandering why the heck nobody was talking about that jacked black guy. I was an Arnold fanboy, but damned Serge looked like a Greek God Statue next to Arnold and Lou.

[@liamflynn6929]

He had appeared in French films so he wanted to be paid as an actor. He made the producers remove the footage of him since they wouldn't/couldn't pay him what he wanted

[@FreeIreland32CountyRepublic]

Patrick Moore's first Olympia appearance was absolutely top notch 👌

[@BossofBosses111]

Man I thought he was going to take over after that first appearance

[@FreeIreland32CountyRepublic]

@@BossofBosses111 Looked amazing on his own, was dwarfed standing beside the likes of Ramy. I think he's taken over a year off to put on more size. I hope he doesn't end up blowing this mid section out, that would be a travesty.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

Frank Zane maximized what his frame would allow and in 1979 he was the perfect balance of heavier muscle and ripped condition.

[@ronherrera8327]

I can’t believe he didn’t mention Frank Zane in his top 10. Never even heard of a third of those top 10.

[@IronViking_931]

Steve Reeves, HANDS DOWN. No one even comes close. He’s the blueprint for what all bodybuilders since have attempted to duplicate. The greatest genetics ever and natural. His shoulders, waist, and calves are god like and in general, he had the perfect Grecian proportions.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

High protein, high fat, medium carb and low sugar diet

[@scottmitchell1974]

@12:32 Bob Paris looks like he's holding a cup of coffee. :)

[@jeffreylocke8808]

Bob Paris won the World Championship aka Mr. Universe and that can never be taken from him.

[@SicSeb]

Serge Nubret looked amazing. Peak aesthetics

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

One of the greatest waist's in bodybuilding history, on season he ate one large meal, (high carb, high fat, medium protein, low sugar), off season he ate three large meal's, (high carb, medium protein, low fat, low sugar)

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

Serge's off season diet ‍Meal 1 8 eggs 4 pieces of toast Milk Meal 2 3-4 pounds of meat (chicken) Rice Milk Meal 3 3-4 pounds meat (ground beef) Spaghetti Milk

[@sazileinstein]

Man ur content is better than all other channels of late

[@Bonekk1992]

flex wheeler 93 was best aesthetics and mass combination serge nubret my favourite aesthetic physique, better than too skinny and flat frank zane

[@madmax-nz2xh]

Frank Zane is to overeted,not even good abs..not so small weist,small legs,weird chest etc,only good condition..It is mistery how he did all that..when in era of much better bb

[@shawnturner7064]

Sir you are doing the LORD's work. I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride in the HOT TUBE time machine of Aesthetic bodybuilders. I do believe classic is the wave of the future.

[@clermonttremblay8916]

My favorite is Mike Mentzer !

[@Nirsterkur]

Steve Reeves, Frank Zane, Bob Paris...

[@jimmybass375]

Thierry Pastel was criminally underappreciated.

[@juansalas7693]

Totally agréé with you !

[@rickbrenner6079]

Your video was great, introducing me to some old time aesthetic bodybuilders I’d never heard of before. And my Top 5 bodybuilders of all time are all in your video except one. They are as follows: 5. Arnold 4. Serge Nubret 3. Paul Dillett 2. Shawn Ray 1. Flex Wheeler I should say my #1 & #2 favorite bodybuilders of all time are really interchangeable. Shawn Ray was a model of consistency at bringing an incredibly aesthetic, balanced, and quite muscular physique to the Olympia each year. And while Flex Wheeler was no where near as consistent as Shawn Ray, Flex had three years in his career where he reached the pinnacle of what a human male would most want to look like. Mythical proportions. So in this regard, though he had only three years like this, the “career highs” that Flex had during those three years were, IMO, unmatched by any pro bodybuilder in the history of the sport. And those three years where Flex ruled the world were ‘93, ‘97, & ‘98.

[@ytsux9259]

You neglected to include the current king of aesthetics, Cbum.

[@myflesh10]

Aesthetics is subjective of course. One of My top aesthetic preferences is a wide clavicles, Large rib-cage, the appearance of height, longer limbs, overall balanced structure and a not so big head. Then down from there a smaller waist and a tight gut. Thats why Ronnie 98 & 99 are one of My ultimate examples of Aesthetics based on My personal criteria. Though I Love 2003 the Aesthetics were a bit of due to the gut. Arnold is My top fav though not as big as Ronnie obviously

[@HkFinn83]

Of all the physiques you pick...Ronnie Coleman?!

[@nickluckovitch3288]

Ronnie Coleman and aesthetics...LMAO

[@MrMaxenen11]

Fantastic video man, great job!

[@nattybynature1262]

Awesome list here, a couple of names I'd not heard of before

[@andrewcarpenter3991]

I personally always thought of Larry Scott the first Mr. Olympia as an aesthetic build especially for the 60s era and he managed to build width even with short clavicals

[@philliplabuschagne5508]

If ever I doubted you this video was perfect even to the last picture of Surge Nubret. I agree with everything in this video.🎯 Scary shit😂 Surge, Francis, and Charles Claremont 🥇🥈🥉

[@scottcameron5640]

Lots of great choices here. If I was doing the list, I would have added Danny "The Giant Killer" Padilla. Great proportion, extremely aesthetic.

[@dazjackson1972]

The 2 chicks with Serge are very aesthetically pleasing.

[@gustavofigueiredo1798]

I agree with your opinions here, Mark. However, I think you could've added Wheeler and Levrone, it doesn't matter that it was only earlier on in their careers. Even Yates was somewhat* aesthetic early in his Olympia reign. Funny that Arnold, Zane and Labrada are the least aesthetic ones in this video, in my opinion. Honorable mentions to me: Roy Callender and Danny Padilla and Robby Robinson*. Can forget about the women: Rachel McLish, Cory Everson and Lenda Murray. (Edits marked with *)

[@stevegeorge6880]

Yates was always pretty thick through the middle and didn't have great arms. That's not to say that he didn't have a fantastic physique, but I don't think anyone looked at his 92 form and thought that's what they wanted to look like on the beach.

[@gustavofigueiredo1798]

@@stevegeorge6880 Yeah, fair enough, it's a bit of a stretch. I think it's just some aspects of his physique, for instance: his abs and thighs was really good for a mass monster and his calves always stood out.

[@myflesh10]

Awesome vid Mark!

[@user-boobs]

For me: - Steve Reeves - Dick Dubois - Glenn Bishop - Jean-Charles St Mars - John Farbotnik - Tom Sansone - Don Howorth - Arnold Schwarzenegger - Tommy Kono - Bob Paris - Leroy Colbert - Ellington Darden - Sergio Oliva - Serge Nubret - Milos Sarcev - Clancy Ross - Ramon Dino - Jeff Seid - Joel Kellett - Jerry Ross - Larry Scott - Bill Pearl - Jim Haislop - Chris Sabatino

[@myflesh10]

Lovin all the obscure bodybuilders that ya hardly hear of

[@chrisbats6072]

For me it’s Francis Benfatto

[@mikthe2004]

I'm glad you gave Arnold his due. Flex Magazine once listed the "20 most aesthetic bodybuilders of all time" and from memory, Arnold wasn't on the list. Arnold's body was massive but beautiful - no homo lol!! Charles Clairmonte is 2nd on my list of favourite bodybuilders - after Arnold. I'd probably include Lee Haney on the list too. He was massive, but beautifully aesthetic.

[@joelsta09]

Bob Paris

[@wongaz]

In the 2000s, you missed: Richard Jones, Toney Freeman, Melvin Anthony, Milos Sarcev, Darrem Charles

[@rajithnambiar2737]

For me, Lee Haney is the best with mass with class category. 🎉

[@ukestudio3002]

Tony Sansone

[@Chodestick]

It's a crime that you forgot to include Brian Buchanan

[@colinfisher2491]

Buchanan had glaringly weak calves that's what let him down badly Undoubtedly his waist taper ratio was the greatest of all time.

[@Chodestick]

@@colinfisher2491 Sure he had weak calves but that surely shouldn't exclude him from an honourable mention from this list in my opinion

[@retrobilly1719]

All the guys on your list Great!

[@stephensuddick1896]

Surprised that Samir and Rory Leidelmeyer didn't make the cut.

[@Ferencvaros27]

Marx, great vid, but I wonder if you considered boyer coe and robby robinson! also check out Marco Falcone, guy had the second best Victory pose behind sergio oliva

[@DonSchanteloni]

Serge Nubret without even thinking. Arnold and Sergio Oliva Sr. are not far behind. Patrick Moore from nowadays looked fine as well.

[@morecharacterswithamix9067]

1990 Nabba version of Charles Clairmont is my favorite aesthetic look. If I could have a boon to look like someone, I'd pick that version.

[@davidmiranda9227]

Rory leidelmeyer is top teir aesthetics too

[@calvinm1866]

Awesome video.

[@muscl3beard]

For me, Brain Buchanan looked the most supreme

[@HellBoy-id6ss]

Thank you for this video Marx? Max? Mr Muscle.. It reminded me what drew me to bodybuilding as a young man in the first place.. Truly inspirational.. Todays bodybuilders are clowns filled with silly puddy.. Again thanks for the reminder..👋

[@cdjxman]

9:50 - Thierry Pastel………….WOW!!🤩

[@myflesh10]

For some the waist line is their number one Aesthetic quality, it is important obviously but down on My list vrom other factors like balance. Great list though I would have had Samir on there, Levrone, Brain Buchanon and a number of bigger guys, glad ya got Arnie tho

[@GMBGFX1]

A big part of the aesthetics people don’t realize is small delts. The smaller your delts the bigger your arms look

[@sankhawkulathantille]

Yup, Serge it is.

[@salxonico]

Flex Wheeler Mike Mentzer Leroy Colbert Bill Pearl Vince Gironda Tom Platz

[@safeasmilk101]

I think you have absolutely nailed it! Anyone looking at bodybuilding today, is going to see mass-monsters with Palumboism (bodybuilders belly), so, so unattractive. Can we blame the drugs, and the judges?

[@May-D97]

Ed Corney was also very good. Nice video 👍

[@comics-on]

Rhoden's 2018 Olympia win is one of the most impactful wins in the sport, 3rd only to Dorian's 1992 and Coleman's 1998 victories. The fact that a guy like Nick Walker, as big as he is, is still expected to have a relatively trim midsection is testament to that. We all know the direction the sport was taking prior to that

[@sammysalix]

Charles Clairmonte!!! The best to do it in my eyes!

[@friedpie4327]

Where is Sergio Oliva?

[@simonefranzini00]

Where is Freddy Ortiz?!!?

[@vanemvenom]

Agree

[@Underhills]

SEO existed before -92. Flex actually was one of the very first to utilize it in the pro lineup, just look at his triceps, shoulders and calves 😂

[@lesnuitssanskimwilde7986]

If you're thinking about esciclene, plenty of guys were using it. I remember hearing about it in a french amateur bodybuilder interview back in 1992 and it was common use at that time. But it's nothing like the product flex was using later. At the 1993 AC he looked super crisp, ripped to the bone, something that is not possible with "synthol".

[@dave-oz1ni]

where was lee priest bro even kevin levrone? i think healthy is a key word here. also the weight caps for classic should be raised very slightly. great video

[@dylanobrien4617]

I think some mass monsters have aesthetic body parts, even if the physique as a whole isn’t particularly aesthetic. Examples are Lee Priest’s forearms and Jay Cutler’s quads.

[@kevinodinson]

My personal favorite physique in all of body building. Flex wheeler hands down. I mean when the king openly admits that flex had the best physique ur doin summin right

[@georgemichaelforever4079]

Serge, no doubt. All of them look good while posing, Serge looked good just existing doing nothing, if I were to have anyones body I'd pick Serge's

[@IronViking_931]

Honorable mentions: Eugen Sandow & Sergio Olivia

[@JuanAntonio-y9w]

Ok marx muscle, we're at 17 minutes into the video and still no Edward kowak. What's going on sir? I know you didn't forget him?

[@dyardsale5475]

I submit Samir Bannout.

[@pfishhed9345]

Rory Leidelmeyer could be on the list as well

[@williammcclelland6789]

What about Tony Pearson?

[@MrPistons4life]

Ron Love? 💪❤💯

[@JanRiffler]

You forgot the X-man Toney Freeman.

[@abdulhamza172]

Can you do a video "if politics didn't play a rule in bodybuilding" And shows us what history would of been like without politics?

[@retrobilly1719]

Paul Wynter Way ahead of his time

[@dustyrolls1983]

Arnold #1

[@mickdimi1456]

Charles Clairmonte

[@JohnPeter1940]

Day 180 of saying hi to Marx!

[@myflesh10]

Yeah Francis Benfatto, so under rated, I prefer him over Labrada, tho of course Labrada is awesome

[@oemecheta]

Perfect entertainment!!!

[@kishorebalan2799]

No Lee Labrada??