Keep your eyes peeled, Wisconsin’s hottest bachelor may be roaming the streets of Mad-town.
Cosmopolitan Magazine recently named Phil Nwafor, 24, a UW graduate and health services integration engineer, as one of the most amazing bachelors in America. Three days after receiving a phone call informing him of his newfound fame, he was shipped off to Miami for his first photo shoot ever.
“I didn’t even know I was involved in this,” Nwafor said. “My friend sent in my photos and a letter, and I found out three days before they flew me to Miami what was going on.”
Although he was born in Chicago, Nwafor spent his childhood traveling with his mother and living in a number of places from Germany to London to the Caribbean. He came to Madison his freshman year as a camera-shy student studying electrical engineering and hanging out at the bars.
“I have a job at a health care service in Chicago now, and I’ve definitely settled down a bit,” Nwafor said. “But I miss my friends there, so I try to get to Madison every few weekends.”
Never having dreamed of being a model, Nwafor is finding quite a few unexpected results of being Wisconsin’s most amazing bachelor.
“It started as a contest for men who’ve made significant impacts on the community and stuff, but I’ve gotten lots of e-mails from various modeling agents wanting to take a look at me,” Nwafor said.
As of now, Nwafor has committed to doing more modeling for Cosmo and has contracted with an upcoming Malibu campaign.
In addition to e-mails from agents, Nwafor receives at least 80 e-mails a day from fans who saw his picture in the November “All About Men” issue of Cosmo.
“Most of them are sweet, congratulating me and complimenting me, but some get a little crazy,” he said. “I have one girl from New York who sends me a poem every day and thinks we’re meant to be together.”
Devoted to his honorary title, Nwafor promised himself he would e-mail each fan a response.
“The girls were so surprised. They were like, ‘Oh my God! You’re a real person!'” he said.
Although he still attempts to contact every fan, it gets harder and harder with time.
“It takes so much time from my day. Plus, I’m not looking to meet anyone, just thank them. I’m not married, but I’ve had a girlfriend for three years,” Nwafor said.
One thing he prides himself on is sticking with his core values and morals throughout his life.
“I grew up in a lot of cultures, I speak a lot of languages and have met a lot of people, but I still haven’t changed who I am,” Nwafor said.
And he’s convinced modeling won’t change that either. He has a social life, enjoys grocery shopping, Badger games, and a job that keeps him grounded.
“I didn’t tell the guys at work anything, but one of their wives saw me in Cosmo and when I got back from a business trip, there were pictures of me covering the office,” he said. “They even had poster size ones on the wall. I couldn’t believe it.”
His life has definitely taken a surprising turn with his crowning as one of America’s most amazing bachelors, but Nwafor plans to make the best of it.
“Modeling could be a great part-time job, but I’d never leave my full time one. I love it and the guys are great,” he said. “They don’t call me Phil anymore though, just Cosmo.”