Whenever a group of people get together, it’s been said, the topic of conversation inevitably shifts to sex or death. And so, as the world recently lost two stars long before their time, it’s fitting to contemplate their roles in pop culture as sex symbols.

With Farrah Fawcett, the former Charlie’s Angel who defined sexy for an entire generation, it’s easy. But in his prime — before plastic surgery turned him into a parody of himself and child molestation charges gave the media fuel to denounce him as a freak — Michael Jackson was every bit as sexy as a supermodel.

So What Is Sexy?
What defines a sex symbol? Thick blonde hair, a tight body and a smile to kill for—along with the ability to kick ass on a top-rated TV show–certainly don’t hurt. But to be sexy…really, truly sexy… requires something far greater. Farrah Fawcett had it.

The fact that every girl of that generation wanted their hair to look just like Farrah’s was one side effect. But it wasn’t her golden locks, or even her body or her gorgeous features that all the girls wanted and the guys lusted after. It wasn’t even the fact that she showed a whole generation that women could be strong and powerful and still beautiful. Those things helped to make her the best selling pin-up girl of all times. But mostly it was the entire package, the attitude, the je ne sais quoi that turns some people into starlets. Call it confidence, but it transcends such a simple word. Farrah, who battled the very rare anal cancer, maintained that power, grace and beauty right until the end.

Sadly, Farrah’s death at age 62 after a long struggle, was overshadowed when the King of Pop Michael Jackson died unexpectedly of a supposed heart attack later that day, June 25.

Raw Talent = Sexy
Unlike Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson had difficulty maintaining his grace under fire, tabloid rumors and general weirdness, but that does not detract from his contributions to the music world. Along with Madonna, Michael Jackson defined an era of pop music. His soft yet powerful lilting voice and his dance moves were the stuff of junior high and high school dances.

What Generation X-er doesn’t remember learning to moonwalk, or gathering in front of the TV with your friends to watch the World Premiere of Thriller on MTV? Innocent times, those… bear with me while thirty-something Desiree Sweet waxes nostalgic, wipes a tear away for those bygone days… because yes, Michael Jackson was decidedly sexy. It had to be the music.

May I share a personal memory? Growing up as a teen in the days of magazines like Tiger Beat, my bedroom walls were plastered with photos of the teen stars of the day: Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise. (Don’t get me started on “Where are they now?”)  Amidst all those “conventionally gorgeous” teen stars, Michael Jackson also had a place of honor. He transcended standard definitions of hot, his music, his dance moves and his stage presence making girls of the time fall in love with him.

Sexy Never Dies
At age 50, Michael Jackson was set for a comeback, proving: “Once a star, always a star.” But those hopes ended tragically. As of this writing, no one is sure exactly what happened but we’re sure to find out before the media storm dies.

One thing we do know: Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson typified their respective eras and genres and will be missed. But we can keep their star quality alive, remembering them in our minds as the very definition of sexy.

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