The Square Life

The dating scene in Utah County is unique to any other in the country. Where else is it perfectly acceptable to go on a date with a different person every day of the week? Truth be told, we have some of the most attractive and talented people right here among us. But in this turbulent and fast paced world of dinner and a dollar-movie it’s hard to narrow down the choices. So Square set out to find Utah County’s most eligible bachelor and bachelorette. We wanted a guy and girl who had the whole package: looks, likeability, ambition, and lots of money… just kidding. And we found them!

NATALIE DEVINE

Ok, I’ll admit. I was smitten. The first thing you notice when speaking with the appropriately named Ms. Devine is her cute little English accent. Somehow it just put me in a good mood. It was as if I was interviewing Julie Andrews and she was literally feeding me spoonfuls of sugar without the medicine. That’s how cool Natalie’s accent is.

But there is so much more to this broadcast journalism major than a pretty face and an attractive accent. Natalie has her head on straight. Currently she is interning in Los Angeles at BWR, a PR firm that represents such talent as Brad Pitt, Christina Aguilera, and Renee Zellweger. She was even wearing jeans that were supposed to make their way to Demi Moore. Even so, her real passion remains in broadcast journalism. From reporting the morning announcements in high school to working for the UVX news staff at Utah Valley University, Natalie has developed a deep passion for being in front of the camera.

Moving so often around the world to places like Chile, Poland, and now the United States, has helped her develop a deep bond with her family, which consists of two protective, (but not overly so) brothers, her best friend (who also doubles as her sister) and her parents.

As a two-time Homecoming Queen at Alta High, Natalie has always had the affection of her peers, and teenage boys. This is mostly likely derived from her genuine love for people. She lights up the room and makes everyone feel special; at least she did for me.

So how does a guy get her attention? It’s just like Nacho says, “take it easy.” Be yourself and don’t try to say things to impress her; that only makes things awkward. So for heaven’s sake don’t tell her things you think she wants to hear; being yourself works a lot better than naming all of the Spice Girls or offering her a spot of tea. Just be funny, outgoing, original, and dynamic; and avoid looking desperate. That’s not so hard is it?

PARKER MANGUM

I’m not sure Parker fully realized the privilege and responsibility of being elected Utah County’s most eligible bachelor. Square is providing this Idaho native an opportunity to strut his stuff across our pages and literally be held in the hands of over forty-thousand women (ok, fine…half our readers are probably men). Even still, he impressed me. While most people’s claims of mountain biking, triathlons, and whitewater rafting are reserved for the lies of their MySpace and Facebook profiles, Mr. Mangum actually follows through. It helps that he comes from a family that’s just as active as he is. They love skiing, camping and being outdoors. But don’t worry ladies, being an outdoor survivalist and professional athlete isn’t one of his requirements for dating; you just have to be open to trying new things. You can’t be afraid of getting dirty like he does. Parker plays wide receiver for the Cougars. That’s right ladies, he’s on the team. But make no mistake: this isn’t some meat-head. We’re talking about the next big thing in motivational speaking and life coaching. He wants to be a mentor to inspire, uplift, and help people reach new levels of personal development. Parker Mangum could very well be the next Steven R. Covey, but with hair.

Honestly speaking, he is an all-around nice guy and surprisingly approachable. If you really want to catch his attention, just be sure of who you are and most importantly, be confident. He likes a girl who knows what she stands for, is driven, has ambition, and expresses her own opinion. So if you’re lucky enough to run into him on the street, apologize for running into him, and then strike up a conversation. I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I was. This guy has it all: looks, charm, ambition, and a season pass to Snowbird. I can only hope that this article has provided his fellow teammates with enough material to razz him for at least the rest of the semester.