On Mekahel has never been shy. A model, designer, and pop provocateur, he’s built a brand around boldness, confidence, and self-expression. But with his latest track “Pretty Boy,” the artist peels back the layers, offering a personal anthem that doubles as a glittery celebration of self-love, transformation, and queer power.
“I always just wanted to be pretty,” he confesses. “Some people want to be doctors, some want to fly planes—I wanted to be pretty.”
That might sound shallow to some, but for On, it’s a story of reclamation. Growing up, he never felt beautiful. Over time, he made choices—both physical and emotional—to reshape the way he saw himself. From prioritizing the gym to undergoing cosmetic procedures, every decision was part of his journey toward becoming the person he always dreamed of being.
And now, when he walks into a room, the world sees what he feels: a happy, pretty boy.
“I finally feel like I became something I always wanted to be,” he says, smiling. “That’s a big deal for me.”
A Song Born in the Car—and in Love
The making of “Pretty Boy” wasn’t just personal—it was intimate. The lyrics came together in collaboration with his husband, Dave, borrowing lines straight from their real-life dynamic. “We’d take things I say, or things he says about me, and just put them into lyrics,” On says.
The earliest vocals? Recorded in the most unexpected place: his car.
“I sent about 20 different voice notes to my producer, Ido Nadjar, in Europe,” he explains. “Later I went to the studio to re-record some, but a lot of those late-night car takes made it into the final song. They felt real.”
From there, the track was passed to Ran Ziv, his producer in Tel Aviv—who, coincidentally, was the one who first started calling him “Pretty Boy.”
Beauty, Culture, and the Power of a Look
Beyond the glitter and glam, “Pretty Boy” taps into deeper themes. As someone with Middle Eastern and Romanian heritage, On has navigated identity on multiple levels. For years, he tried to “Americanize” his music and appearance—but now, he embraces the uniqueness of his background.
“I realized my Middle Eastern side is actually my superpower,” he says. “The music, the accent, the way I look—it all works better when I lean into it.”
The idea of beauty, for On, is both playful and powerful. “I’m very trashy when it comes to beauty,” he jokes. “My whole life is about it. I work in fashion. I love pretty things. Beauty makes me happy.”
That unapologetic love of aesthetic shows up in lyrics like “mirror mirror on the wall, says I’m the sexiest of them all”—a wink to pop culture, but also a personal truth.
Don’t Touch the Husband
Not everything in “Pretty Boy” is about On himself. One standout line—“holding to my man so you bitches beware”—comes from real experiences on the dance floor.
“In the gay party scene, people sometimes think they can just grab whoever,” he says. “My husband is very attractive, and people always try it. So we literally hold on to each other—not just to stay together, but to send a message.”
The “Brazilian Hooker” Era
On’s playful side is all over the song—especially in a lyric that flips assumptions about his identity: “They thought I’m Brazilian, but baby I’m Middle Eastern.” It’s not just clever—it’s true.
“People ask me if I’m Brazilian all the time,” he laughs. “Last year in New York, during New Year’s, a few people legit thought my husband and I were Brazilian hookers visiting the city. We laughed so hard.”
“Why You So Hot?”
A final fan-favorite line—“why you so hot? / no you hot”—isn’t just catchy. It’s peak On.
“That’s me, 100%. When I’m out, I’m always throwing out one-liners. That’s what I say to cute guys—and when someone says it to me, I always respond, ‘No, you hot.’ It became my thing.”
Welcome to the Pretty Boy Era
With this song, On Mekahel isn’t just making a bop—he’s owning a chapter. It’s sexy, sparkly, cheeky, and deeply personal. And if anyone has a problem with him calling himself “Pretty Boy”?
“Well,” he says with a wink, “I got it tattooed on my neck. So, too late now.”
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