• Log in
    Out.comFashionEntertainmentDesignLifestyleTravel & NightlifeOut ExclusivesNewsPrintWeddingsVideo
    ADVOCATEPrideOut TravelerPLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    Email NewsletterSubscribeSubscriber Services
    CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    Out MagazineOut Magazine
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    Photos: Cover Stars Nyle DiMarco, Chella Man As the New American Idols

    Mikelle Street
    | 07/08/22

    Photos: Cover Stars Nyle DiMarco, Chella Man As the New American Idols

    Nyle DiMarco and Chella Man Are the New American Idols

    Nyle DiMarco and Chella Man

    This summer, Out enters its 30th year with over 300 printed issues. Here, we revisit and re-create 10 covers -- celebrating them for what they were while reimagining them for newer audiences.

    When Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy covered our May 2018 issue, it became the most liked cover on social media -- and remained that way until our 2021 Out100. And for good reason: our "American Idols" were celebrating their friendship and historic year at the Olympics. Today, its multihyphenates Nyle DiMarco and Chella Man that are celebrating. Both making space for the deaf community and queer folks in Hollywood specifically and culture at large, each having made history multiple times over. The pair have become idols themselves.

    Nyle and Chella cover

    Chella Man is, largely, a star of his own creation. The artist, model, and actor of many communities -- he is Chinese American, genderqueer, trans, Deaf, and Jewish -- came to the fore initially through his YouTube channel where he began sharing his experiences with dysphoria and transitioning back in 2017. He fashioned himself into a piece of representation he had needed, talking about his own identity, sharing his body, and his art. And people began to take notice, following him en masse, as well as brands who began to cast him in fashion projects as a model.

    Man made history when he was signed to IMG Models back in 2018 -- he appeared on our Out100 that year. A year later he made his acting debut as Jericho on DC Universe's Titans. In 2021 he made history yet again, becoming a face of YSL Beauty.

    Now, the 23-year-old is more than just representation but an agent of change and at times a power broker. He currently serves as a host of the webseries The Truth alongside Aaron Rose Phillip for In The Know. This follows having served as an executive producer on Trans in Trumpland, a four episode docuseries. He also recently curated his first exhibition, Pure Joy. Presented at 1969 Gallery, it is a group exhibition of 14 emerging and mid-career artists seeking to reclaim and celebrate the humanity of disabled artists.

    "As disabled individuals, we are often asked to make work about our suffering or trauma -- I wanted this exhibition to encourage other components of our humanity," he wrote of the show.

    Nyle DiMarco & Chella Man
    Nyle and Chella
    Nyle and Chella
    Nyle and Chella
    Chella Man
    Chella Man
    Nyle DiMarco & Chella Man
    Nyle and Chella

    NYLE and CHELLA MAN are both wearing PRADA Pants and BERNARD JAMES Jewelry

    Creative Direction MIKELLE STREET mikelledstreet.com @mikellestreet
    Assistant MILAN GARCON @milangarcon
    Photographer MYLES LOFTIN mylesloftinphotography.com @mylesloftin
    Photo Assistant Light Tech EVADNE GONZALEZ @evadnegonzalez
    Photo Assistant ANDREW ESPINAL @andrewespinal and JIN JIN
    Digitech MERLIN VIETHEN and JOSH ROBINSON
    Production Director TIM SNOW @snowmgz
    Production Manager STEVIE WILLIAMS x2production.com@beingstevie of X2 Production Production
    Assistant TOBY TEITEL @toby_teitel
    Video AUSTIN NUNES austinunes.com @austinunes
    Creative Conception STUART BROCKINGTON, ANNA CARIAS, MIKELLE STREET
    Hair CHARLIE LE MINDU charlielemindu.com@charlielemindu
    Hair Assistant JET KEEFE @jetkeefebeauty
    Makeup LARAMIE laramiemakeup.com@laramiemakeup
    Makeup Assistant ARPITA BRAHMBHATT
    Stylist RASAAN WYZARD @monsieur_wyzard
    Stylist Assistant MELINDA GRIFFITH

    Related | Cover Star Nyle DiMarco Is a Model Teacher of Deaf and Queer Culture

    Latest Stories

    Roxxxy Andrews; Kim Chi; Lady Camden
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Every Finalist Queen on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' & Their Track Records

    13h
    Jake Foy
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Get to Know Jake Foy, the Gay Cowboy on Hallmark's New TV Show 'Ride'

    March 30 2023 11:13 AM
    Chris Appleton and Lukas Gage
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    10 Adorable Pics of Lukas Gage & Chris Appleton As a Power Couple

    March 28 2023 2:37 PM
    Gus Kenworthy; Joel Kim Booster; Luke Macfarlane
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    10 Celebs Who Have Talked About Being on Grindr

    March 28 2023 1:18 PM
    Pokemon Trainor Pop Stars
    Art
    Badge
    gallery

    This Artist Turns Your Fave Pop Stars Into Fabulous Pokémon Trainers

    March 27 2023 2:31 PM
    Pangina Heals and Man Sruang
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    10 Pics of Pangina Heals & Man Sruang That Make Them Hot Couple Goals

    March 27 2023 12:20 PM
    Lee Pace and Matthew Foley
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Lee Pace Shares Sexy Birthday Pics With Husband Matthew Foley

    March 27 2023 11:44 AM
    Kit Connor
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Kit Connor Posts Shirtless Gym Pics, Goes Full Muscle Bro

    March 27 2023 11:17 AM
    PHOTOS: Billy Porter Celebrates His New Out Cover in NYC
    Out Exclusives
    Badge
    gallery

    PHOTOS: Billy Porter Celebrates His New Out Cover in NYC

    March 27 2023 11:12 AM
    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?

    March 24 2023 5:47 PM
    jamie clayton, rosie o'donnell, leo sheng
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    7 Things the New 'L Word: New York' Series Needs to Have To Win Us Over

    March 24 2023 2:08 PM
    Lukas Gage and Chris Appleton
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Chris Appleton Calls Lukas Gage 'Apple of My Eye' & Shares Couple Pics

    March 24 2023 12:34 PM
    Gleeworst
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of 'Glee's Worst & Wildest Musical Sins

    March 23 2023 5:11 PM
    Santana Lopez, Carol Aird, Taissa Turner, Shane McCutcheon
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of Our Favorite—But Problematic—Fictional Queer Women Characters

    March 23 2023 11:21 AM
    Serena ChaCha; Milk; Loosey LaDuca
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    10 'Drag Race' Queens Who Got a 'Delusional' Edit On the Show

    March 22 2023 3:42 PM
    Monet X Change; Trixie Mattel; Jinkx Monsoon
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    Every Drag Artist Performing At the 'Drag Isn't Dangerous' Telethon

    March 21 2023 2:42 PM
    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'
    Out Exclusives
    Badge
    gallery

    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'

    March 21 2023 10:44 AM
    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked

    March 20 2023 2:39 PM
    Maluma
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Maluma Shares Nude Pics & Proves He's Still a 'Pretty Boy Dirty Boy'

    March 20 2023 2:31 PM
    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews

    March 19 2023 2:16 PM