,

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.

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

Photo by Monstera Production:

Books by Black LGBTQ+ Authors To Explore This Pride Month

In honor of Pride Month 2025, we’ve some of our favorite books by Black LGBTQ+ authors …
Prom Looks

The Most Boldest and Outrageous 2025 Prom Looks

From Disney cosplay attire to beautiful proposal, we are sharing our favorite prom send offs …