In some parts of the U.S., the most coveted male models aren’t those with hulking muscles or chiseled jaws. In fact, it’s the men with long hair and beards that get stopped on the street. Or rather, men who look like the American ideal of Jesus, Son of God.
Jesus Models
A recent report in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the rising demand for Jesus lookalikes in Utah, which is home to large religious population. In 2023, a survey found that 42% of Utah’s population was part of The Church of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons.
According to the Journal, Utah residents are sticking Jesus in all types of photos, from family portraits to wedding announcements. Besides looking the part, it’s important for the Jesus model to dress and act the part, too. Models are typically asked to wear the Son of God’s robe and carry his staff. In one case, a model said he was told to be “the most Christlike person you can be, or people will be able to tell through the photos that it’s not real.”
MaKayla Avalos, a 28-year-old who runs a photography business, hired a friend’s brother to interpret Jesus in photos with her kids in 2020. She told the Journal that she wanted her children to see pictures of themselves with Jesus every day
“Most Christians have Christian artwork in their home,” Avalos said. “This is a way to make it more personal, more catered to an individual.”
Actor Jonathan Roumie portrays Jesus in the series The Chosen.
How a Shortage Birthed an Industry
Although Jesus models are in high demand, they’re not that easy to find in Utah. Interestingly, the shortage can be traced to The Church of Latter-day Saints, which expects its workers to keep their hair short and be clean-shaven. Brigham Yam University, the church’s leader higher education institution in the state, also has an honor code that requires students to swear off beards and long hair.
These requirements for men have existed for years, even though they contradict many pieces of popular religious imagery.
“It is ironic that temple workers are expected to be more clean-shaven than the deity figures—God and Jesus Christ—portrayed in LDS films and portraits,” Armand Mauss, the late religious sociologist, said in 2013. “Maybe men will have to achieve deity status before they will get their beards back.”
Hiring the Son of God for $100 to $200 an Hour
Given the landscape, it’s not surprising that Jesus models can charge between $100 to $200 for a photo session. Some models say they have literally been approached about work, or their resemblance to Jesus, while on the street. Bob Sagers, a 6-foot-5-inch man with dirty blonde hair up to his shoulders, got approached while walking around an indie music festival in Salt Lake City.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have a Jesus look to you?” Sagers recalled a stranger telling him. There was a purpose behind the man’s question: His wife was an artist looking for religious models.
“I didn’t really get that a lot,” Sagers said. “I make for a pretty tall Jesus.”
The Year of Jesus
While Jesus has always been a popular figure, he seems to have especially broken into the mainstream this year. In 2024, we saw “Sexy Jesus,” a painting of Jesus that some decried as being too provocative; “Hot AI Jesus,” a deluge of AI-generated images on Facebook depicting Jesus as ripped with amazing hair; and “Shrimp Jesus,” which was, yes, the Son of God literally made of shrimp.
And let’s not forget there’s even a Jesus TV show, The Chosen, which started out a small, crowded project and can now be seen on streaming services like Netflix. (To be fair, it debuted in 2017). The Chosen will debut its fifth season, centered around the crucifixion of Jesus, in March 2025.
Takeaway
So, is society just obsessed with Jesus? Taking a photo with a Jesus model doesn’t necessarily represent Jesus’ teachings, which include helping others, especially the poor. For some people, though, I imagine that the Jesus models do represent a short of comfort.
Terry Holker has posed as Jesus in many photos, more notably some he took as a gift for his mother. He recalls being stopped by a woman who asked him if he could walk with her and hold her hand.
“‘You know I’m not the real Jesus, right?’” Holker said he told her. The woman said that she did, but that she had been looking for a sign from God. Apparently, that was Holker.
Images | 5&2 Studios
Related | The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet Is No Longer a Mystery. This Is the Group That Recorded It
View 0 comments