Cosmopolitan 2012 Hottest Bachelors – Meet the Locals

By Erika Primdahl & Katie Krieger

Brian Jackson
Washington, DC’s Hottest Bachelor
Age:  28
Career:  Reporter, Comcast SportsNet

On Tap: It sounds like your new fame is keeping you pretty busy. How does it feel?
Brian Jackson: Well, for starters, I probably have about 75 new Twitter followers. Aside from that, just having all of my friends and co-workers get a good laugh out of the situation. People at work usually call me “B. Jacks”. Now everybody, including the general manager, has started calling me “The Bachelor”. They all think it’s ridiculous.

OT: But they haven’t photocopied the article and plastered it around the office. That’s good.
BJ: …Not yet. I was in Target the other day buying a copy of the magazine. When I went to check out the lady at the register gave me the most uncomfortable, inquisitive look, so I had to explain that I was buying it because I was one of the bachelors, and flipped to the page. She was so surprised and impressed.

OT: Has your dating life picked up since the issue came out?
BJ: Well, I found out in May that I was chosen, but they were really strict about not saying anything. The results were announced to the public on October 1. They don’t give us a lot of time between being nominated and having people vote for us – not a lot of time for the title to affect my dating life.

OT: You’re from Chicago. What brought you to DC?
BJ: I went to Howard University for broadcast journalism. Proud Alum! I’ve been here for about ten years now.

OT: Since you’ve had ten years to explore DC, can you give us a play-by-play of your ideal DC date?
BJ: Let’s see. I can put this out there. Girls that have dated me will laugh. I have a go-to first date; H Street Country Club for miniature golf, and sushi at Sticky Rice. I will obviously never be able to use that again.

OT: The nation’s capital is a political center. Would it bother you if a girl you were dating had political beliefs that were drastically different than yours?
BJ: I’m not huge into politics, so it doesn’t really bother me. Maybe if it got serious down the line, but when you’re just meeting somebody, it doesn’t really matter.

OT: Given your career, is it safe to assume you’re an athletic, somewhat competitive guy?
BJ: Yeah, I play a lot of flag football, some basketball.

OT: Would you agree that, in some ways, dating is a competition?
BJ:  It can be. I mean, I don’t want to be compared to all the other guys. That’s why I try to do more creative dates. I’m not a dinner and a movie type of guy. Most girls, they meet a guy, he takes her to dinner, first date, whoopdie-doo- guys always do that. So I try to do something a little bit different.

OT: Would you date a girl whose athletic abilities were equal to, or even outshined yours?
BJ: That might be a turn on. A girl whose into sports? Nothing wrong with that.

OT: What’s the most common mistake women make when they first start dating a new guy?
BJ: Hmm. High expectations too soon. They have these high expectations of someone that they don’t even really know yet. Take your time; get to know someone before you start thinking about future plans.

OT: I’m sure all of our female readers are curious – are you really a bachelor?
BJ: Cosmopolitan is pretty insistent about making sure the people they choose are, in fact, single. So, yes.

OT: Do you have a type?
BJ: I used to, but I’ve found in my dating ventures that having a “type” really narrows the playing field. It cuts you off to so many possibly great relationships, romantic ones or friendships. I just look for attraction; equal parts physical, equal parts mental.

Josh Legha
Maryland’s Hottest Bachelor
Age: 23
Career: 2nd Lt. USMC

On Tap: How did you get involved in Cosmo’s “bachelor of the year”?
Josh Legha: One of my really good friends entered me in the contest as a joke and I won!

OT: Where did you grow up? And what brought you to the DMV area?
JL: I was born in NY but when I was accepted into the US Naval Academy I moved to Annapolis, MD and have made Maryland my new home.

OT: Are you really a bachelor?  
JL: Yes, I still am ladies!

OT: If yes, are you looking for a girlfriend or do prefer to continue enjoying the single life?
JL: Am I looking? It would not be very smart to say ‘no’ to a good thing.

OT: What are the most important qualities you look for in a girl?
JL: She has to be fun to be around within a social setting as well as in a laid-back situation, such as sitting around on a Sunday in sweats watching football or a movie. I’m a sucker for a pretty smile mixed with an athletic figure; fitness is paramount for me.

OT: What TV or movie character are you most similar to and why?
JL: Not sure about who I am like, but I am a huge fan of Vin Diesel because after following his Facebook I realized he is a very goal-oriented successful individual who started off small in NY and is now doing extremely well. Plus, I’m a huge fan of the Fast and Furious movies.

OT: What has been the most awkward date you’ve ever had?
JL: I try to make sure no dates are awkward by keeping the mood very light and crack jokes with a smile always on my face, plus I only go on real dates with girls I’m comfortable with and really interested in. n

See Brian and Josh’s Cosmo profiles at www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/bachelors-2012. Catch Brian on Twitter @mrbjack, and Josh @leghaj.