Tough yet tender: The modern man

It's unclear whether Instagram star Mark Bryan, currently famous for donning skirts and heels in a small German town, ever watched Heidi Klum's "Germany's Next Topmodel." He would have found his master in catwalk coach Bruce Darnell, who on the show taught men willing to walk in high heels how to do it right. The candidates were also able to learn a thing of two. Darnell's motto: "Drama, baby!"

The ex-footballer is considered the epitome of the metrosexual: Always stylishly coiffed, fashionably en vogue and avant-garde tastes in cosmetics. He appeared in public in a skirt and admitted that he wore his wife's panties. That would be Victoria, a former Spice Girl, who at the get-go told her David in the super hit "Wannabe" what a woman wants in a man: "I'll tell you what I want."

Another soccer player — and even more narcissistic than Mr. Beckham — is Cristiano Ronaldo. On Instagram, he enjoys revealing his naked torso. He's also adept on the sentimentality keyboard: he's been seen shedding tears in public, but it's mostly been tears of joy when he could to lift up one of his numerous trophies. Deeming him the standard for your average guy is totally under the belt.

In "Boys Don't Cry," Robert Smith of The Cure hid his tears in 1980, and he covered up his grief with laughter. Back then, men were supposed to be strong and not show their emotions — even when thrown away by their beloved like yesterday's trash. With his dark eye make-up, painted fingernails and tousled hair, Smith would be described as a metrosexual today.

Tokio Hotel followed in the aesthetically successful footsteps of The Cure with their own frontman. Singer Bill Kaulitz won the hearts of mostly female teenagers around 20 years ago with his androgynous style. His tender and delicate figure can be seen in the video for the song "Monsoon." His more robust twin brother Tom is married to Heidi Klum.

The modern man needs to be able to openly admit his weaknesses and accept defeat. For some this new gender perspective hasn't yet become apparent. Perhaps it comes down to a question of the generation gap. Older gentlemen may be stuck in their ways and have missed the chance to catch up with modern times. There's no need for us to name names.

Herbert Grönemeyer is a singer and household name in Germany. His song "Men" questioned the cult of the strong man already in 1984. Grönemeyer foresaw a clash of expectations, self-identity and emancipation among modern men.

"Men have muscles," sang Grönemeyer. If that's the case then Arnold Schwarzenegger is a real man. He was a destructive Terminator on the big screen and the Californian governor in real life, he also won the title of Mr. Universe. Bodybuilders are indeed super strong men, but their routines could also be seen as the forerunner for today's metrosexuals: first oil up, then pose.