We didn't think it was possible. But have you noticed that Justin Timberlake is managing to look even sexier than ever these days?
First, we had the "Gone" video, which featured a sleek and muscular Justin rolling around on the grass with a Croatian model, in scenes so steamy that tabloids reported Britney was in a jealous rage. (Actually, she admits she changes the channel when those scenes are on, but realizes it's part of their jobs.) Britney, of course, hasn't been shy about her body lately, but now it seems Justin is showing her that she's not the only one who can flash some skin. He's posed in sexy photo shoots for older-leaning publications such as InStyle and British fashion magazine Arena Homme Plus recently and the photos are so hot, all the talk is about how the former Mouseketeer has finally grown up.
So what's the motivation behind Justin's racy new look? "You sometimes have to kill to have a rebirth," explains controversial photographer Steven Klein, who shot a rugged and shirtless Justin for Arena in what become the singer's most risqué shoot ever.
It may sound a little extreme, but that's just what Justin is aiming for. "Klein said, 'When I do these shoots, I like the subjects to play a role,'" says Justin. "He explained the scenarios and I was down for it. I know the pictures he takes are like pieces of art in themselves and that's where you kind of have to trust who you're working with. I trusted him the whole time. And he made it really comfortable for me. I'm a bit more naked than I have been in the past, but it is what it is. For me, it's like a still in film."
Some observers say Justin is trying to make a distinctive identity outside of *N Sync to prepare himself for a solo career, but Justin dismisses those rumors. "I don't think any of us looks at it that way," he says. "We don't even look at ourselves as *N Sync; I think of them as each being their own personóbecause everyone is an individual."
Justin also rejects his sex symbol statusósort of. "I'm just me. I do what I do and I do it naturally. I just have fun and if somebody looks at me in that way, it's very flattering," he explains. "[But] honestly, I don't look at myself as sexy."
Well, Justin, you may be the only one who doesn't!