Benson Boone Opens Up About Body Image Struggles, Says He Can’t Be the ‘Sex Icon of the Century’

Benson Boone might appear confident onstage, but things are a bit different behind the scenes.

The rising star discussed his self-consciousness surrounding his appearance in a new interview with Rolling Stone published on Tuesday (March 11), especially since his fanbase is primarily young women who view him as a heartthrob. “There is an art to making anybody go crazy.… I also don’t want people to come to a show expecting me to just take my shirt off and it to be like a gun show,” he told the publication. “One, I don’t have the guns for that. Two, that’s just not what I’m about.… I don’t want to rely on my physical form to be the primary driver of my shows.”

He added that it “sucks to just focus” on his body image “all the time,” adding, “Because I’m so incredibly hard on myself, and when I start to think about my appearance too much, it just kills me because there’s always something more I could do. There’s always a hairstyle or, like, my arms could be bigger. My shoulders could be bigger. It’s never-ending. I can’t afford to think that way because I will never be happy if I do think that way.” 

The 22-year-old singer noted that his thoughts surrounding his appearance “affect me so much.” He continued, “Obviously, like, I enjoy working out and I want to keep my physical shape because I need to. But I can’t be the sex icon of the ­century, just because that’s not who I am.”

Despite his insecurities, it’s been a breakthrough few years for Boone, who catapulted into pop stardom following the release of his Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit, “Beautiful Things.” He performed the track at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where he was nominated for best new artist.

Following the success of his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, Boone expanded his world tour — which launched in the spring — with additional U.S. dates.