The Himbo Trope, Explained

The brainless bombshell known as the bimbo is one of our most familiar tropes, but recently, a new brand of halfwit hottie has been gaining recognition. Enter the himbo. Like their bimbo counterparts, the requirements for a himbo are simple: They’re hot, kind… and kind of stupid. But in a world that’s become more flexible about gender norms, while more critically examining manhood in the wake of MeToo, the himbo also suggests an answer to the toxic masculinity perpetuated by cynics and so-called nice guys. Here’s our Take on the himbo as a model of a more modern idea of manhood, and what we can learn from the character who knows he’s not the smartest person in the room.