The ex-Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, is a fan favorite both at home and abroad. He looks more like a showbiz star than your typical boring politician. Given his reputation as the world’s most handsome politician, it’s hardly surprising that women adore him and men aspire to emulate him.
Trudeau loves being in the spotlight and getting the attention of the public. Not to mention, he is constantly doing something quirky or funny to entertain the fans. Or at least he used to do all that. However, since Trudeau has departed from the challenging realm of politics, we no longer have the opportunity to observe his antics. Therefore, we must reminisce about his earlier days and savor the nostalgic moments.
Before he was Canada’s prime minister—and long before he rocked sharp suits and diplomatic charm—Justin Trudeau was just a young guy with serious ’90s heartthrob energy. The Internet has had plenty to say about his good looks over the years and even joked that Melania Trump and Ivanka might’ve had a thing for him. While that’s mostly online fan fiction, there’s no denying Trudeau had major charisma back in the day.
Justin’s 2017 photo serves as a perfect example of his charisma. Someone on Twitter posted an old picture of a young, shirtless Trudeau that immediately got people talking. In the pic, he’s sporting a sleeveless plaid button-down—unbuttoned, of course—and a brown cord necklace, complete with some sort of a cool-looking pendant. His hair is short, and the whole vibe screams, “Hollywood, you have my number.” The caption jokingly compared young Justin Trudeau to Zack Morris and A.C. Slater, referencing the “Saved By The Bell” dreamboat duo from the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The comparison isn’t that far off. With his casual rebel look, Trudeau could’ve passed as a background character in any teen sitcom of the era—maybe the misunderstood bad boy who rides a skateboard to school while doing sick, wicked tricks. And, fun fact: Justin actually was a teacher before going into politics, so maybe life was imitating art after all.
The one thing missing from that throwback photo is Trudeau’s now-famous tattoo. These days, Justin’s left arm features Earth wrapped inside a Haida raven. Back in 2012, Justin commented about its significance on Twitter, saying that he got the globe when he was 23 and the raven for his 40th birthday. That Haida artwork connects to his family history too. In 1976, the Haida Nation named the Trudeau family honorary members while his father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister. The tattoo, designed by acclaimed Haida artist Robert Davidson, is rich in meaning. The raven is a symbol of creation and transformation in Haida mythology – fitting for someone who went from plaid-shirted heartthrob to Canada’s leader.
Given that there’s no ink visible in the throwback photo, it likely predates his 23rd birthday. A lot has changed since then, but Trudeau doesn’t seem bothered by the attention his appearance still gets. In a 2016 interview, he said that people are free to criticize him all they want, and even that would be nowhere near the amount of discrimination that a woman who’s just walking down the street will face. Trudeau has developed a very thick skin and is fine with whatever people might throw at him.