Cosmopolitan Australia brings back male celebrity centrefold

Iconic women’s mag Cosmopolitan is bringing back the male celebrity centrefold, starting with a rising Aussie star.

Cosmopolitan Australia is bringing sexy back.

The newly relaunched magazine announced today that it is reviving its iconic centrefold, a special section that debuted in the US edition in 1972 that usually featured a male celebrity in the buff.

Aussie star of the moment Josh Heuston is given the honour of launching the sexy section while also appearing on the cover – the first time a male has graced the front since Cosmopolitan Australia’s epic relaunch in August. But some might be disappointed to see that, for Heuston at least, the pants stay on:

Josh Heuston appears in a sexy shoot for Cosmopolitan Australia’s relaunched centrefold issue. Picture: Supplied

“The one question we were asked repeatedly when we relaunched Cosmo back into Australia with overwhelming support this year was, ‘Please, tell us you’re bring back the centrefold?!’” says Cosmopolitan Australia editor Tess Ogle.

“Well, we heard loud and clear – our readers want bold, they want fresh, and they want content that speaks to the empowered woman of today. So, we’re delivering just that by reviving the centrefold in a way that feels authentic, exciting, and oh-so-Cosmo.

“We’re excited to make history together. Because Cosmo doesn’t just follow trends, we set them.”

Selecting Heuston as the magazine’s first centrefold is a no-brainer given his star is on the rise in Australia and overseas. Not only has the 27-year-old starred opposite Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder, but he also currently stars in HBO’s blockbusterDune: Prophecyspin-off series, which airs locally on BINGE.

He has also won over fans with his stint on Netflix’s Heartbreak High and charmed GQ into awarding him Australia’s Breakthrough Actor of the Year award in 2022.

And his new stint as Cosmo’s very first centrefold wraps up a stellar couple of years for the actor, who isn’t just a pretty face – he holds a double major in Biomolecular Science and Commerce from Macquarie University in Sydney.

Stream Dune: Prophecy on BINGE, available on Hubbl.

Heuston says it is an honour to be the very first Cosmopolitan Australia centrefold. Picture: Supplied

The actor grew up with Cosmo because of his two sisters. Picture: Supplied

Heuston says he is proud to be part of history. Picture: Supplied

“Growing up with two little sisters, Cosmopolitan was a magazine that was always around at home,” he said in a statement. “Being asked to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan is already a huge honour but being part of the new look centrefold feature makes this moment even more special. We had so much fun collaborating on set – I’m incredibly proud to be part of the magazine’s history in such a unique way!”

While Heuston flashes some skin in the issue, while provocatively holding a hose in one photo, his shoot is relatively PG compared to those of his predecessors.

Burt Reynolds was the very first male centrefold to front Cosmopolitan in 1972. Picture: Supplied

The Cosmo centrefold was first launched in the US by legendary Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown in 1972 with Hollywood star Burt Reynolds tapped to be the first ever male nude centrefold.

In that issue, Reynolds posed completely naked in nothing but a tan, with his arm modestly covering his private parts. Follow-up centrefolds included Arnold Schwarzenegger and David Hasselhoff.

While Cosmopolitan Australia did not adopt the practice here, local magazine Cleo launched its very own centrefold, which featured celebrities also wearing close to nothing.

Among those who were selected were actors Guy Pearce and Lincoln Lewis, TV presenters Jamie Durie and Tom Williams, radio host Kyle Sandilands, and the first-ever Australian Bachelor Tim Robards.

The December/January issue of Cosmopolitan Australia is available December 2, 2024

Originally published as Cosmopolitan Australia brings back male celebrity centrefold