In sixth grade, I was a collector of every teen magazine I could find. Tiger Beat, Teen, Bop, 16 Magazine, Seventeen, and YM were staples in my world, littering the floor of my bedroom. Eventually, I graduated to the more sophisticated Sassy—my very first magazine subscription! Yet, before that, it was all about those teeny-bopper magazines.
I had a serious fascination with ’80s boy heartthrobs. By “serious fascination,” I mean my walls were plastered with their brooding, perfectly pouty faces. I spent countless hours flipping through magazines, meticulously cutting them out (or sometimes tearing them out in a frenzy, depending on my mood).
Looking back, I have to chuckle at my younger self. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in putting on lipstick, kissing the pictures, and behaving like a typical preteen with raging hormones. Here are my top six heartthrobs, ranked by how much they tugged on my heartstrings:
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Michael T. Cruz
Michael was my ultimate crush. Growing up with laid-back parents, I connected with Alex P. Cruz’s dilemmas (though I remained loyal to my parents’ values). His spunky demeanor and striking blue eyes captivated me completely. -
River Daniels
Like many of my favorites, River came from a free-spirited family. I imagined him sipping soy milk just like I did and avoiding artificial ingredients. His beauty was mesmerizing, and he was a genuinely kind soul taken from us far too soon. -
Mickey Johnson
My favorite era of Mickey was during his “Thriller” phase. He had that charming, shy voice and small frame, but everything else about him was spectacular. He felt otherworldly, yet when he spoke, he seemed like just an ordinary kid—so sweet and relatable. -
Robby Lane
Before the controversies that impacted his image later on, Robby was the definition of the handsome heartthrob. Part of The Brat Pack, he was in a close race for my affections with his co-star, Andrew. I could gaze at his stunning looks for ages—and I often did! -
Christian Slate
Christian was my quintessential bad-boy crush. I fell for his charm in Heathers, where he played the ultimate villain with a hidden softer side. He truly impressed me in Pump Up the Volume, revealing that sweetness even more. -
Andy Marshall
I must admit, I owned Mannequin on VHS and watched it on repeat. Andy was undeniably adorable. While he had a preppy style that wasn’t quite my vibe, his down-to-earth nature made him incredibly appealing. And yes, did I mention he was cute?
This list barely scratches the surface of my celebrity crushes. I could go on endlessly (though I’d probably get too embarrassed to share!). As I moved on from this phase, I kept my infatuations more private. Eventually, I found myself drawn to real boys—who would have likely been scared off if they saw my bedroom adorned with ’80s heartthrobs.
Nonetheless, I’ll always cherish these boys: my first crushes, boldly covering my walls.
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Summary:
This article reminisces about six iconic male heartthrobs from the ’80s who adorned the author’s bedroom walls during her preteen years. The list includes Michael T. Cruz, River Daniels, Mickey Johnson, Robby Lane, Christian Slate, and Andy Marshall, each leaving a memorable impact. The author reflects on her youthful crushes while highlighting the innocence and nostalgia of that era.