Why Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness Can’t Give Up His Old iPhone

The grooming guru from Netflix’s ‘Queer Eye’ on obsessively replaying gymnastics videos, his most essential hygiene tool and his beloved iPhone 7 Plus

Clockwise from bottom left: iPhone 7 Plus; a Starbucks bag; floss; Beats Pill+ portable speaker; a hoody by the brand Velvet;the “Presidential” podcast; Jonathan Van Ness. Photo: GETTY IMAGES (3), VICTOR PRADO (HOODIE)

I use the Postmates delivery app all the time, even for my morning coffee. I can’t leave to get it because I need to look good in the morning, so I’ll spend $9 on a Starbucks coffee with half and half. That’s how committed I am to looking groomed on camera.

If I could only have one grooming tool, it would be floss. I don’t want to have broken Cheetos in my teeth. To protect myself from the sun, I can find shade under a tree. To moisturize my skin, I could get really sweaty and then just rub it on myself. But how are you going to clean between your teeth without floss?

I still have my iPhone 7 Plus because I’m just not ready for the 8 or the X yet. I’ve never had an iPhone before that I wasn’t ready to get rid of. But even though my battery dies so fast, I’m just still really attached. It reminds me of a giant Pop-Tart. It’s just so big.

I love having the Olympic Channel app on my phone because I can watch old gymnastics videos any time. I’m obsessed with gymnastics. It’s like my football. And I like to watch women’s gymnastics a little bit more than men’s because I live for balance beam.

I always keep a Beats Pill+ portable speaker in my bag, especially for when I’m doing yoga outside. I like to go on a journey with my yoga playlist. Usually at the beginning I try to set up a meditative grounding, something a bit more quiet, like Donna De Lory. Then I will usually build up to something like a Solange—it’s got vocals but it’s more a medium tempo. And then I’ll build up to something more energetic for the highest apex of my workout before I wind back down.

I love the “Presidential” podcast. It goes chronologically through each president with a lot of sobering but interesting context on our history. I’m still at the beginning, though. I’m still on Jefferson.

Since I have psoriasis, I buy anything that feels good against my skin. I tend to wear really, really soft hoodies by the brand Velvet. Even if I don’t have a flare-up, I’m still like: Oh. My. God. This nice thing feels so good.

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