Up Close & Personal: Behind the scenes with
Romance's Sexiest Men
by
Shannon Emmel
Working with the Mr. Romance Competition for the past seven years has made
me an expert on the men of romance. I've seen them at their best and at their worst. I'm always
fascinated by the reaction of the fans You wouldn't believe the things you hear in the ladies
room! There are those who are so enamored by the handsome faces and god-like physiques they are
unable to speak when they meet them. Others show only a mild curiosity. Some show open disdain,
while still others go out of their way to find their every fault.
The collective term I use for the contestants is 'My Boys'. That is, as opposed to, 'The Boys'
for cover models in general. This is because for the week of the competition, I am their
surrogate mother. (Or as I prefer to tell them during orientation, "...the most important woman
in your life for the next 5 days..."
What is my job? Well, in a nutshell...Prior to the convention, I detail for them everything
they need, and need to know for the competition, so they can arrive properly prepared. I make
sure they're on time, that they get enough sleep, eat right, and I try to keep them out of
trouble for the duration of the convention. I'm the one they come to with their problems and
questions because everyone knows 'Mommie Shannon' can fix everything. Yeah, Right!!
I've had some very interesting experiences with My Boys. I've dealt with stage fright, lost
luggage, missing wallets, cancelled reservations, tanning beds, workout schedules, restricted
diets, irrate wives, jealous girlfriends, pseudo-agents, obsessed fans, missing costumes, or
worse yet-- NO costumes, last minute additions and no-shows, blight, famine and plague-- Huh?
Whoops, skip those last three.
The most common misconception about My Boys is that they are great to look at, but basically
stupid, egotistical, sex-crazed gigolos. The truth of the matter is that, with very few exceptions,
My Boys are intelligent, polite, and professional. Many of them are surprisingly shy and unassuming,
and sorry ladies, most of them are in long-term, monogamous relationships.
I offer my personal reflection, in no particular order, on not only the winners of the Romantic
Times Mr. Romance Competition, but also the most famous, or is that infamous, of the celebrity
cover models.
Ryan Storm: This Mr. Romance is just as sweet as they get. He charmed the crowd and the judges
during the competition. Who would have guessed that a guy who looks like that actually teaches
second grade! He won me over during a photo shoot when he told me he made his own costume. What
more could a woman want? This man is not only good looking, but he cooks, cleans AND sews. To
top it all off... he loves kids! Since his competition, Ryan has also become the proud pappa of
a beautiful baby girl and he happily looks forward playing the role of real-life hero to "Daddy's
little girl!"
Mark Johnson: Mark is the consummate performer. He has impeccable timing and can ad-lib in
any situation. He is a remarkably spiritual person who has devoted much of his time and talent
to delivering inspirational messages through his music and his everyday life. Although he is not
the typical brawny hero-type, his rugged, handsome features, natural poise, sincerity and
generosity of spirit combine to make him a wonderful role model. I would have to call Mark an
atypical hero- a hero of heart and soul for the new millennium.
Rob Ashton: What can I say about Rob. The man is sex on a stick, (no pun intended.) He
oozes a raw sexuality with just the right mix of little boy charm. The most surprising thing I
observed about Rob was that underneath the sexy exterior is a charming little boy from Alabama,
who isn't always sure of what to make of all the attention. But I think he's figured it out
since his competition in Ft. Worth!
Joseph Zingali: The last Over 40 winner. Joseph is a truly amazing man. He has survived some
personal tragedies which, in the end, made him an even stronger, more balanced individual. He
was so stunned when he won the title in Ft. Worth, we wondered if he'd make it through the rest
of the awards. He has the heart and soul of the classic, romantic hero and is living proof that
chivalry is not dead.
John D'Salvo: My experience with John has been nothing but positive-- from the 1994 Mr. Romance
Competition in Nashville to today. In the years since his win, I've known John to be extremely
professional in his dealings with me and others in the industry. His secret? He has a face and
body chiseled out of stone, but he also has an incredible head for business. More importantly,
he plans ahead, follows through with those plans and maintains control of his career. He also
understands the importance of effective Public Relations and promotion and chooses carefully
when selecting those who represent him in these areas. Although John still appears on countless
covers, his main focus has turned to the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera.
Judging from his past record, I have no doubt John will attain whatever career goals he sets
for himself.
David Alan Johnson: The very first Mr. Romance! Although I wasn't in San Diego when he won,
I had the pleasure of working with David in Nashville, Ft. Worth and Baton Rouge. I have to say
he is the perfect contemporary hero. He has a fabulous body, a great personality and a smooth,
sexy voice that seems to wrap around you. It's no wonder he was so successful in the Male Spokes-Model
category on Star Search. I still have the photo he signed for me, "I loved the passionate kisses..."
I'll let you try to figure that one out, but it's NOT how it sounds.
James Fox: (The First over 40 winner) I met James in Nashville and found him fascinating. He is
tall, handsome, distinguished and sexy as all get out. All I could think of at the time was,
"God! I hope they look like him when I'm in the Over 40 category."
Harvey Stables: Toronto brought several pleasant surprises, not the least of which was the
newly-crowned Mr. Romance. Harvey was one of those contestants who made you think, "He's not the most
obvious or the most flamboyant, but he's got great features and he might just surprise everyone." When
the winner was announced, the one who was the most surprised was Harvey! You see, at the time
Harvey was a key player on his college football team. Although he'd taken quite a bit of ribbing
from his team mates after his photo appeared in the promos for the competition, he hadn't really
considered what he'd do if he actually won. Only after he had been selected by the reader's of
the Toronto Sun to participate in the competition, did he reluctantly break the news to his
coach that he would NOT be playing in that Saturday's game. (Please note that since his win Harvey
signed a contract to play professional Football for the CFL!!!)
Steve Sandalis: The original Topaz Man-- I first met Steve when Topaz sent him to south Florida
for the Florida Romance Writers' Conference. I was the publicity chair and also in charge of the
book fair- so believe me, I was thrilled to have him there to help the cause. My first impression
of him was that no one could be that perfect. I couldn't find a flaw anywhere-- Not in his
physical appearance or in his personality. The real killer for me was when I saw him a few
months later in Nashville. Not only did he recognize me, he remembered my name and spoke to me
first. Then he asked about my friends and family, whom he'd met in Florida. To me, Steve's sincere
interest in the people he meets is one of his most endearing features. I'm not easily impressed,
but that impressed me then, and it still does. I am very pleased to say that Steve has found
success in many areas of his life. On a personal note, he is happily married and currently
living in California. Steve is also steadily gaining respect and recognition in the entertainment
industry. With so much going for him, I have no doubt that Steve can look forward to continued
success in all of his career endeavors.
The Bartling Brothers: Jim, Kurt & Kris-- Cover models and pig farmers extraordinaire! I don't
know what to say except, "Ya gotta love 'em." I've watched Jim, the eldest, balance a family, a
family business and a blossoming career, and still find time to see the humor in life. I've seen
middle brother Kurt roll with whatever life throws at him and never miss a beat. And I've seen
the baby Bartling, Kris, distinguish himself as an individual, rather than simply the youngest
in a family of five. What has impressed me the most about the Bartling Brothers is that, through
the years, they have remained refreshingly untainted by their notoriety. What has made them so
popular, is that they really are the All America Boys Next Door. They are approachable, friendly,
polite and have strong moral values. They are the kind of young men any father would approve of,
and the kind of men that any mother, would love to see their daughter bring home. And that is
perhaps the greatest testimony to the character of these three, delightful Heartland Heroes.
Fabio: His obvious good looks were only a part of his success. Fabio was, and in many ways still
is, the epitome of the romantic hero. He was the first to step off the covers and into the twentieth
century. He is the personification of the fantasy-- outrageously handsome, devilishly charming,
intriguing and literally larger than life. (For anyone who hasn't seen him in person, the man can
fill an entire room with his presence. It's positively uncanny!)My experiences have shown him to
be dedicated to his friends and family, patient and gracious with his fans, and funny and surprisingly
down to earth. In many ways he truly is 'The Gentle Conqueror" The trend in publishing seems to be
leaning away from the classic clinch covers and leaning toward a more mainstream look. I for one miss
the bare chests and flowing manes on the bookshelves. But not to worry, I'll always have enough personal
inspiration to keep my creative juices flowing for years to come. And if I do run out of inspiration,
I have the perfect, all-purpose reference guide- my personal 'Little Black Book', complete with 4+ and
a few 5 star ratings. Don't you just love research??
