Benny Blanco and his strange fixation for nail art

Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about Benny Blanco as the ideal man, the one every woman would want by her side. A series of interviews released both solo and alongside Selena Gomez - his current girlfriend and future wife - highlighted several very positive traits in his approach to relationships and an above-average level of emotional intelligence. Then, as often happens with anything born online, the bubble gradually deflated, and some even began to suggest that the idealization of Benny Blanco may have gone too far, just like the "perfect boyfriend" character he seemed to embody. It’s undeniable that all of this coincided with the promotion of the album released by the producer in collaboration with Selena Gomez, and it’s only natural that the entire thing was also part of a marketing strategy.

Benny Blanco’s toenails: an eccentric habit

In the process of dissecting, analyzing, and scrutinizing every word and nonverbal cue of Benny Blanco, not everyone may have noticed that one of his most peculiar and eccentric traits isn’t his messy hair or his somewhat chaotic way of speaking, but his obsession with toenail polish. Rarely a single color, and more often intricate nail art. Luckily, or unluckily, depending on your perspective, for a long time, Benny Blanco’s nail artist (@nailedbytav) shared some of her strangest creations on her Instagram profile, which we’ve collected here for you.

The eye

It’s hard to deny that this nail art isn’t a work of art, as detailed as it is unsettling. The precision with which the skin under the eye, the iris reflections, and the finishing touch, the false eyelashes were replicated is astonishing. Of course, we doubt Benny Blanco could wear sneakers in the days following. Looking at it, you almost feel like one of his nails might wink at you.

The Persian rug

Recreating the decoration of a Persian rug, with all its colorful patterns, could almost serve as a source of inspiration. But as for the fringed edges, hands up. So cringe it loops around and becomes genius, with a touch of surrealism. Who came up with the idea? We have a guess...

The lime

The two hours of work by Benny Blanco’s nail artist (@nailedbytav) are on full display here: these hand-painted lime slices are incredibly detailed, with a three-dimensional effect, especially on the big toe, that makes them look real. Once again, the line between fascination and discomfort is razor-thin: clearly, the producer has a passion for hyperrealism and she has serious talent.

Sushi night?

And if two-dimensional realism wasn’t enough, here comes sculpture: we can’t imagine anything less comfortable, but here Benny Blanco took it to a whole new level. On his toenails, a full sushi platter comes to life, complete with sashimi, nigiri, and hosomaki. We have to admit: it didn’t make us hungry.

Tarantulas

If food is a recurring theme, Benny Blanco shows here that he also has a more animalistic side: on his toes, creepy tarantulas crawl forth. Especially unsettling because they’re hairy... literally. The nail artist revealed she used strands of his own hair to make them more realistic. Ew.

Pepperoni pizza

Back to the food department, with one of the most iconic distortions of Italian culinary tradition: pepperoni pizza, or spicy salami pizza. The details here are a bit more abstract, but we especially appreciate the crust painted on the right big toe. Maybe it really is Benny Blanco’s favorite dish.

Adolescence

The climax of our (subjective) disgust peaks with this hyperrealistic and equally revolting nail art: the stars are angry pimples that perfectly capture what might be the most dreaded phase of every male (and not only male) life: adolescence. We wonder what Jung would have said about this choice.