'We're all gonna make it': What gymbros are getting wrong about Zyzz

For a generation of Australian men, the start of their gym journey was sparked by a photograph of a shirtless young man from Sydney named Aziz Shavershian, known online as Zyzz. His brash videos, ridiculous poses, and provocative statements garnered attention through bodybuilding forums, YouTube, and social media. With a muscular physique, tan skin, stylish hair, and confidence, Zyzz remains the focus of a new documentary called Poster Boy: Becoming Zyzz, despite his untimely death at 22 years old in 2011.

The documentary explores the rise of Zyzz as a social media celebrity and how it relates to modern online content celebrating the era of gym and rave culture.

However, Zyzz's legacy is now viewed through a different lens by his older brother, Said Shavershian, also known as ChestBrah. He emphasizes that he and Aziz always preached, "We're all gonna make it," which was a message of uplifting others and believing in one's potential. Said sees the modern male influencers in the manosphere as far from the positive representations of masculinity they and their brother once promoted.

He argues that masculinity should be about vulnerability, kindness, and love rather than flashy displays like fast cars and fancy watches. The pursuit of physical perfection has become more extreme online, with communities obsessing over facial structure, perceived attractiveness, and ranking themselves against others in what is known as looksmaxxing.

Said criticizes some practices, such as "face pulling" and "bone smashing," as toxic manifestations of this pursuit. He also points out that the digital age and social media have amplified misinformation and brought harmful content to impressionable audiences.

Poster Boy delves into Zyzz's death, revealing that he actually died from acute respiratory failure after a combination of morphine, cocaine, and benzodiazepines, not a heart attack as previously believed. He also had an enlarged heart, but the cause remains unclear. The film questions the myth surrounding Zyzz's image and the role of performance-enhancing substances in his life.

Said, who uses performance-enhancing drugs himself in controlled settings, defends their use for competitive sports, bodybuilding, and recovery. He believes such substances have a place in sports, but acknowledges that the modern culture surrounding physical perfection can be toxic. He emphasizes that Zyzz, despite his flaws, was still imperfectly perfect and relatable to many young men who lack positive role models in society.