Shoppers and pop fans are talking about Orville Peck’s landmark Playgirl cover, but the bigger question is who could follow him. From Troye Sivan and Lil Nas X to Ricky Martin and Adam Lambert, these openly gay singers already bring the style, confidence and stage presence that could make a future shoot unforgettable.

Essential Takeaways

  • A landmark cover: Orville Peck is being celebrated as Playgirl’s first openly gay male cover star.
  • A new audience: The masked country singer’s appearance suggests the magazine could appeal strongly to queer readers.
  • Plenty of contenders: Troye Sivan, Lil Nas X, Ricky Martin and Adam Lambert all have obvious pop-culture appeal.
  • Consent comes first: Any future shoot should remain the artist’s choice, however much fans may enjoy speculating.
  • The visual appeal: The strongest candidates combine music, fashion, theatricality and a confident relationship with their bodies.

Orville Peck has opened the door

Orville Peck’s Playgirl cover has turned a familiar bit of pop-culture fantasy into a genuine talking point. The masked singer brings glamour, mystery and a deliberately old-school sense of showmanship, making the image feel less like a standard celebrity shoot and more like a playful cultural moment.

According to Them, the cover has particular significance because Peck is the first openly gay male singer to appear in that position. GCN and The Pink Times likewise framed the appearance as a milestone for both the artist and the magazine, which has long carried a reputation for testing the boundaries of mainstream desire.

There’s also something neatly theatrical about Peck being the person to make history. The mask leaves room for mystery, while the near-bare styling gives fans plenty to discuss. It’s a combination that feels very Playgirl, but with a distinctly queer point of view.

Who could be next on the Playgirl cover?

Olly Alexander would be an obvious choice. After building a following with Years & Years and developing a solo career, Alexander has already shown that fashion and performance are central to his public image. His previous high-fashion work also suggests he’d understand how to make a bold shoot feel polished rather than merely provocative.

Troye Sivan has a similarly strong case. His music and videos have embraced queer sexuality with wit and confidence, while his fashion choices have made him a regular fixture in conversations about modern pop style. A Playgirl appearance would fit neatly with the visual world he’s already created.

Then there’s Lil Nas X, who has never treated modesty as a requirement. His flamboyant videos, sharp humour and willingness to provoke make him one of the few stars who could turn a centre spread into a full social-media event. The internet, naturally, would have thoughts.

Big pop names bring a different kind of appeal

Ricky Martin would offer something more classic. He has the dance-floor charisma, the polished image and the confident physicality that have defined his career for decades. In a magazine built around fantasy, that seasoned star appeal could be just as powerful as a younger artist’s shock value.

Mika would take the idea in a more theatrical direction. His flamboyant performances, colourful style and expressive stage presence could translate into a shoot with genuine visual imagination. Rather than simply posing, he’d be likely to create a whole little world around the camera.

Adam Lambert would bring his own sense of spectacle. Having performed in the orbit of Queen and built a major solo career, Lambert is comfortable with glamour, drama and a healthy amount of skin-baring confidence. A shoot with him could feel less like a career gamble and more like another carefully staged performance.

The newer names could make it feel fresh

Omar Apollo has already explored explicit sexuality through screen work, so he’d bring a more contemporary, art-led sensibility to the pages. His appeal sits at the intersection of music, film and fashion, which could help Playgirl present itself as something more considered than a traditional pin-up magazine.

Vincint is another compelling possibility. With a striking voice, a muscular stage presence and plenty of charisma, he has the ingredients for a cover that feels both glamorous and overdue. Sometimes the most exciting casting choice is the artist who makes readers ask why they haven’t seen more of him already.

That matters because the modern celebrity landscape is broader than it once was. Fans now discover performers through music videos, live clips, fashion campaigns and social media, not just record sleeves or television appearances. A Playgirl cover can therefore function as a celebration of personality as much as physical appeal.

A fantasy list still needs boundaries

The fun of a list like this is imagining the styling, lighting and attitude each singer might bring. But, as The Fight and The Pink Times emphasised in their coverage of Peck’s appearance, the artist’s control over the decision matters more than fan demand. No performer owes a magazine, or an audience, a nude shoot.

The best version of a future Playgirl would keep that choice at its centre. It could feature artists who want to explore sensuality on their own terms, whether that means full nudity, suggestive fashion or something far more conceptual.

For now, Orville Peck has provided the history-making moment. The rest is delicious speculation, and perhaps a reminder that confidence is often more captivating than simple exposure.

It’s a small magazine milestone with plenty of room for a much bigger conversation.

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