Move Over Ryan Gosling, These Are Our Fave Black Kens IRL

In honor of the Barbie movie out in theaters, we felt it fitting to highlight the beautiful men in our own backyard who are more than ‘Kenough’ in our eyes.

Michael B. Jordan attends the Vanity Fair 95th Oscars Party in Beverly Hills, California on March 12, 2023. Photo: Getty Images MICHAEL TRAN/AFP

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it’s officially a Hot Barbie Summer. Whether you plan to be all dolled up in pink for the rest of the season or grabbing your friends to go see the long-awaited Barbie movie (that’s out in theaters now, btw)—we felt it fitting to roundup of our favorite Black Kens IRL get you in the mood.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Nicholas Duvernay Talks ‘White Lotus’ Season 3, Working with Natasha Rothwell

Move over Ryan Gosling, BarbieLand is about to get a whole lot more melanated!

Let’s go ahead and kick things off with our favorite Creed and Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan. The internet didn’t dub him Michael B(ae) Jordan for no reason. He’s been on my (and many other women’s) Christmas list for years now and that’s why he’s the perfect Ken.

Trevante Rhodes

Photo: Getty Images Variety / Contributor

Do we really have to say much, here? Trevante Rhodes has the smile, the skin, the physique and the talent to be hands down one of the best Kens on Earth. (Hope Barbie can fight though because we might have to scrap over this one.)

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Photo: Getty Images Thomas Samson / AFP

With a strong name like Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, stellar smile and overall bomb personality, we’d be remiss if we didn’t have him as one of our Kens.

Regé-Jean Page

Photo: Getty Images Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

You already know we will always burn for our forever #BridgertonBae Regé-Jean Page and we will burn this place down if anyone objects to him being one of our Kens.

Broderick Hunter

Photo: Getty Images Leon Bennett for EBONY MEDIA GROUP

Model Broderick Hunter has quite literally been taking up prime real estate on the Ken front seemingly since he came on the scene and we must all thank the powers that be (and his parents) for blessing us like this!

Kofi Siriboe

Photo: Getty Images Dominik Bindl

Kofi Siriboe? No, more like Kofi SiriBAE. He’s been the internet’s boyfriends for longer than we can count and that surely makes him top-tier Ken material.

Lance Gross

Photo: Getty Images Ivan Apfel

Not tapping in Lance Gross as one of our Kens would be doing a detrimental disservice and we can’t have that, now can we?

Morris Chestnut

Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin

Perfection is a strong word, but when it comes to Morris “Been 90s Fine His Entire Life” Chestnut—it seems fitting. Other Kens better take note.

Jalen Hurts

Photo: Getty Images Mike Coppola

Philly Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts clearly took a play out of Morris Chestnut’s “90s Fine” playbook and you know what—a little healthy Ken-petition never hurt nobody.

Keith Powers

Photo: Getty Images Jason Koerner for Netflix

Actor/model Keith Powers Ken-ergy goes all the way back to the days of Tumblr which means he’s been paving the way for years now. And for that we thank him!

Algee Smith

Photo: Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS/AFP

If we’re honest—the minute we saw Algee Smith sing “Sensitivity” on The New Edition Story, we already knew he would have our hearts and perfect Ken-netic energy.

Damson Idris

Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 presented by Prime Video

Damson? More like “damn, son!” (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.) Of course we had to include our favorite saint on our list of Kens.

Aldis Hodge

Photo: Getty Images Suzan Moore/PA

Mentally, we’re still stuck on how perfect Aldis Hodge was as Hawkman in Black Adam. A Ken who flies and looks this handsome? What more could we ask for?

Aaron Pierre

Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

To be honest, we’re still waiting on Aaron Pierre to invite us swimming on those ocean blue-green eyes of his. After all, Ken’s job is beach, right? We need to take a dive ASAP.

Alfred Enoch

Photo: Getty Images David M. Benett/Dave Benett for dunhill

There’s only one word that immediately comes to mind when we think of How to Get Away With Murder star Alfred Enoch as Ken and that word is ABSOLUTELY.

Idris Elba

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Moore/PA Images

Much like Morris Chestnut, Idris Elba is an OG Ken that walked so all these newer ones could run—but that doesn’t mean we love him any less.

Larenz Tate

Photo: Getty Images Dan Steinberg/Billboard/Penske Media

This Ken (a.k.a. Larenz Tate) has been aging backwards since we first laid eyes on him and if that isn’t supreme Ken-ergy—we don’t know what is!

Method Man

Photo: Getty Images NBC / Contributor

Method Man may not be hip-hop’s first Ken but he’s certainly our favorite one.

Winston Duke

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Spicer for Atlantis The Royal

Winston “Thick Daddy Ken” Duke. Oh how we love you, let us count the ways.

Shemar Moore

Photo: Getty Images Paul Archuleta

From the 90’s till now, Shemar Moore has been a heartthrob Ken for many a women and it doesn’t seem like he’s gonna let up on that any time soon.

Omari Hardwick

Photo: Getty Images Michael Tran / AFP

The “power” that Omari Hardwick has definitely solidifies him to be on our Ken list. Full stop.

Boris Kodjoe

Photo: Getty Images Michael Buckner/Variety

Boris Kodjoe has supreme Kenergy and this will not argued.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Lamar Odom’s Fall: From NBA Champ to Khloé Kardashian’s Heartbreak

Lamar Odom’s Fall: From NBA Champ to Khloé Kardashian’s Heartbreak

The complicated marriage between Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardshian is back in the spotlight thanks to a new documentary. Let’s take a look at their rocky history …
Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making to the White House

Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making to the White House

Here’s all of the changes Trump’s made to the White House in his second term, including his controversial ballroom construction …
The Shocking Reason Why Leslie Jones Says the 'Tradwife' Life is Not for Her

The Shocking Reason Why Leslie Jones Says the ‘Tradwife’ Life is Not for Her

Leslie Jones may be single, but that doesn’t mean she’s rushing to walk down the aisle anytime soon. Now, she’s sharing the surprising and hilarious reason why …
Chess, Not Checkers: The Calculated Brilliance of Cardi B’s Corporate Takeover

Chess, Not Checkers: The Calculated Brilliance of Cardi B’s Corporate Takeover

Cardi B admitted many folks assume she’s an “airhead,” however, she’s using the misconception to her advantage. It’s time we stop underestimating her …
10 Years After Tulsa Police Killed Unarmed Black Man, His Family Is 1 Step Closer to Justice

10 Years After Tulsa Police Killed Unarmed Black Man, His Family Is 1 Step Closer to Justice

Nearly 10 years have passed since Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by Tulsa police. Now, his family is finally getting a taste of justice …
Son Steals from a Popular Food Truck and Then Black Mom Makes This Viral Gesture

Son Steals from a Popular Food Truck and Then Black Mom Makes This Viral Gesture

Musa, a food truck vendor, was shocked when the mother of the young Black man who stole money from his tip jar later came to repay the stolen amount …
Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Victor Glover will be the first Black American astronaut to reach the moon… And he’s the pilot! …
Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

‘Scary Movie’ star Regina Hall is opening up about a particularly interesting time in her life and what led to her almost becoming a nun! …
Why Black Folks Should Participant in the Black Census Project

Why Black Folks Should Participant in the Black Census Project

With four years until the national census, leaders are urging Black folks to make their voices heard after the third launch of the Black Census Project …
Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

The shift isn’t about skill. It’s about how the game is being taught …
Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Norwood is finally opening up about the relationship she shared with Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris. And the details are as eye-opening as you’d expect! …
White Influencer's Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model's Photo

White Influencer’s Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model’s Photo

You’ll never guess what Lauren Blake Boultier, a white influencer, blamed after she allegedly stole a Black model’s photo in a bizarre Photoshop fail …
Olandria's New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She's Here to Stay!

Olandria’s New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She’s Here to Stay!

Olandria Carthen may have gained fame from ‘Love Island,’ but she’s clearly here to stay for a long time. Let’s talk about it! …
Legal Defense Fund Head: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

Legal Defense Fund Head: Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

The Root spoke with the president of the Legal Defense Fund on what Black Americans should brace for ahead of the Supreme Court’s case on birthright citizenship …
New Study Links 'Everywhere Chemicals' Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

New Study Links ‘Everywhere Chemicals’ Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

In a study covering more than 200 countries, researchers traced two plastic-based chemicals to approximately 2 million early births and 74,000 infant deaths in 2018 alone …
Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. LaMonica McIver, who is facing up to 17 years behind bars stemming from a legally protected visit to an ICE detention facility”, speaks to The Root …
Inside FKA Twigs, Shia LaBeouf's Relationship Drama

Inside FKA Twigs, Shia LaBeouf’s Relationship Drama

From the beginning of their relationship in 2018 to now, FKA twigs and Shia LaBeouf have been embroiled in a legal and public back and forth. Let’s dig into the latest! …
Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence...Here's Why

Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence…Here’s Why

Amber Rose says she allows her kids to curse because they have free speech, AND that white people should say the N-word…and the backlash was swift …
Why 'Paradise' Season Two Finale Has Fans So Shook!

Why ‘Paradise’ Season Two Finale Has Fans So Shook!

The season two finale of Sterling K. Brown’s ‘Paradise’ has folks all over social media talking—and for good reason. Let’s get into it! …
NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

In a heated debate over religion vs. policy, the Chicago Bulls just waived Jaden Ivey for speaking out about the NBA’s pride nights …