Russian strongman Vladimir Putin became a sex symbol (and even a gay icon) when he stripped down to his waist on a fishing trip:
Newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda published a huge colour photo of the bare-chested President, under the headline Be Like Putin.
The picture illustrated a guide to the exercises needed to build up a torso like that of the Russian leader.
The paper reported that women who visited its website had posted comments on Mr Putin's "vigorous torso" and said they "were screaming with delight and showering him with compliments."
Russian gay chatrooms and blogs were also particularly intrigued by the photos.
And the phrase "vigorous torso" is the most delightfully odd one I've heard in a while ...
And it sure didn't help he wore cowboy gear lately. Brr!