Ah, the sixth grade—a time of glittery teen magazines and secret crushes! I was a collector of all things teen, hoarding issues of Tiger Beat, Teen Bop, 16 Magazine, and Seventeen like they were precious gems. I eventually graduated to the more sophisticated Sassy magazine (the first subscription I ever had), but before that, it was all about those teeny-bopper treasures.
I had a mild fascination with ’80s heartthrobs, and by “mild,” I mean my walls were practically wallpapered with their smoldering, pouty faces. I’d spend hours flipping through my magazines, meticulously cutting out pictures—or sometimes tearing them out in a frenzy, depending on my mood. I’m a tad embarrassed to admit it now, but hey, I’m old enough to laugh at myself. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t alone in kissing the pictures with my lipstick and daydreaming like a hormonal preteen!
Here are my top picks, ranked by how much they tugged at my heartstrings:
- Max Hunter
Oh, Max was my absolute favorite! With his charming smile and delightful personality, I found myself completely enchanted. I could totally relate to his character on TV, and those sparkling blue eyes? Swoon! - Ryder Brooks
Ryder was another dreamy boy with the whole “son of hippies” vibe. I imagined he shared my love for all things organic and avoided artificial flavors. He was just so stunning, a brilliant light taken from us far too soon. - Mason James
During his prime in the Thriller era, Mason was simply magical. With his shy, high-pitched voice and captivating presence, he seemed like a regular kid despite his superstar status. His charm was undeniable. - Robbie Lane
Before the scandals that tarnished his image, Robbie was the quintessential heartthrob. The ultimate member of the Brat Pack, I could gaze at his handsome face for hours on end. Just… wow. - Christian Steele
Every girl needs a bad-boy crush, and Christian was mine! His role in the movie “Heathers” had me smitten, and he showcased a softer side in “Pump Up the Volume.” Total heartthrob material! - Andrew Montgomery
I have to confess, I owned “Mannequin” on VHS and watched it way too often. Andrew was adorably preppy, which wasn’t usually my style, but his down-to-earth charm made him irresistibly cute. Seriously, can we talk about how cute he was?
This list barely scratches the surface—I could go on for days about my celebrity crushes! But soon enough, I learned to keep my crushes more private, especially when real boys started catching my attention. They would have run for the hills if they’d seen my wall of ’80s heartthrobs. Still, I’ll always cherish those first crushes that filled my room with youthful dreams.
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In summary, those ’80s heartthrobs were the foundation of my early crushes, filling my adolescent years with dreamy fantasies. From charming smiles to brooding looks, they made my bedroom walls a canvas of youthful affection.