Before the term ‘influencer’ existed, there was Zyzz.
Real name Aziz Shavershian, from Sydney, Australia, he became an internet sensation, developing a cult hero aesthetic, turning his lifestyle of memes, lifting, raving and nightlife into a cultural movement. He referred to his movement as the ‘Aesthetics Crew’. This fanbase followed his ideology of shredding at the gym to emulate “the Gods” and transform “jelly” (jealous) followers into “miring (admiring) sick cunts.”
Unironically, Zyzz was also the first person to take eshay/adlay slang and mannerisms to a global audience. His speech, humour and insults were pure Western Sydney culture. His environment of raving and his friends fashion also captured the eshay/adlay culture to his global audience.
4Chan, WoW!
Before the shredded physique, Zyzz described himself as a scrawny and skinny teenager that got bulled in school and spent most of his times in doors playing video games – mostly addicted to World of Warcraft (WoW).
He frequently visited 4chan, documenting his journey of changing his life on the 4chan board /fit/, as he said in his own words, he was “tired of being a sad cunt.”
His raw honesty and dedication became the catalyst for his stardom on 4chan. He documented his journey in his bedroom, transforming his body into a jacked bodybuilder. Soon, he wasn’t just improving himself but was helping others on other forums including 4chan fitness boards.
Party God Ascends!
With Zyzz’s new body came a new character. The shirtless, tanned, muzzing Zyzz persona. He moulded his online identity into a party-hard, douche-bro persona, which promoted his ideology of self-improvement and brands.
At the start of his career, he was also notorious for trolling women on social media who were trying to hook up with him.
Zyzz maintained a YouTube presence through his channel, 7zyzz7 (most videos have been unlisted) and flooded his Facebook page with trolling.
Zyzz flexed and muzzed himself through Sydney nightlife like he owned it – and honestly, he pretty much did. There could be an argument put up where he helped push muzzing into mainstream rave culture.
RIP Zyzz.
Zyzz had tried to step away from the fame by taking a vacation with his brother and close mates to Thailand.
Unfortunately, in August 2011, Zyzz was found deceased in a sauna in Bangkok due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 22. The circumstances of his passing were ambiguous and media took advantage of this by immediately tying it with the growing use of steroids by amateur bodybuilders at the time. Additionally, Bangkok’s reputation for drug tourism made speculation even louder.
However, Zyzz never stated he had used steroids, nor was there evidence. An autopsy revealed a congenital heart disorder. The circumstance was highly debated on, turning to the point in 2014-2015 where there was active hate on Zyzz and his image.
Zyzz Immortality. All Hail Absguard.
In March 2012, Zyzz’s brother, Said, better known as Chestbrah, posted a 19-minute YouTube tribute to his brother that has since garnered millions of views.
Every year since Zyzz’s passing, new teens discover Zyzz edits, TikTok tributes and hardstyle fuelled montages with Zyzz’s videos. Commemorative pages, fan accounts and motivational edits appear like clockwork, generating millions of views while keeping Zyzz’s legacy alive. The newer generations that are finding about who Zyzz is have stated that they have been inspired to get jacked because of him.
Arguably, his impact became so deep after his passing, boosting his image further than it ever would have. His impact is so deep that there is a bodybuilding pose that has been dubbed the “Zyzz”.
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