A dinner date with the UK’s most eligible Asian bachelor

‘This is not a date, absolutely not a date’ I remind myself sternly as I totter in heels towards the restaurant.

Quickly checking my appearance one last time, I walk into Jimmy Spices in Birmingham. Seconds after I stuff my compact back into my clutch (Yes I do usually wear heels and take a clutch purse to the office) in walks a tall, dark and incredibly handsome young man who is my lunch date, sorry my interviewee.

The gentleman in question is 23 year old Junaid Shaheen and the reason I’m wearing a black dress and lip gloss is because this month he was crowned Asiana’s most eligible bachelor 2010.

Mustering up every ounce of professionalism inside me I introduce myself and ddmag, and as though my life depended on it, I focus intently on firstly not spilling food down myself and secondly conducting a professional meeting.

If I had any nerves (which I didn’t because it was a working lunch and not a date) Junaid’s personality soon put me at ease. This mixed with my ability to chat as though it’s an Olympic sport soon meant the conversation was flowing freely, just like two friends catching up - that is if one friend just fires Cilla Black style questions at the other one in order to decide if he truly deserves his title.

After meeting him at the award show and arranging the interview, I wanted to know a little more about this year’s winner so I used a modern day journalistic tool– Facebook.

And after a little bit of research, (research, not stalking, as I have a legitimate working reason to be staring at those topless pics of him dancing, the boy can dance did I mention that?!) Sorry getting somewhat distracted – from his profile I find out enough to prepare a polite interrogation of him.

When asked how he felt about winning, Junaid said; “I was really surprised! I’m still shocked the panel chose me. I was really happy with top 10; I never thought I would win”. Awarded with a bouquet of flowers, the joker laughed and said; “I wanted a crown and sash!”

So what did his mum and dad think of the competition? “I took mum a copy of the magazine and she said, ‘well done’ have you cleaned your room! My dad called up everyone telling all the family his son was the most eligible bachelor and it was all down to my inherited good looks and upbringing!”

After eating we move onto the serious questions. Having been named the most eligible bachelor in the UK after a nationwide search, the man certainly has a lot to live up to, and I want to find out just what it is that makes Junaid ‘the perfect package’.

Ok so he’s handsome, I mean really handsome. He’s also a model, dancer, choreographer and performer - but I’m a modern day women and its going to take more than a pretty face to impress me.

But the man certainly does not fail to impress. He has a brain too; he’s a successful graduate with a degree in financial administration and works as a French financial analyst.  He’s also well travelled, fluent in five languages, well spoken, polite and very gentlemanly.

And the best part? ...he’s a one woman man. Asked if his title would lead him to be a ladies’ man, he laughed and said; “No way! I’m not a player; I wouldn’t want and couldn’t handle two women.”

Asked if he was a charmer or a flirt, he laughed shyly; “I don’t know how to flirt, I’m very quiet around women, I don’t know how to talk to them.”

It gets better too; Junaid is also a modern man. Although he admits he can’t cook, he is happy to clean and loves gardening. Handy around the house, he is also a romantic telling me; “real surprises are the small things, not clichés.”

After agreeing with the judging panel that he is more than worthy of his title, I decide to ask him to describe the lucky, (very lucky) woman that would make him hang up his bachelor crown.

“She needs to be a great dancer and she has to hate cricket, because I love cricket and I would like a little bit of fighting” Junaid says laughing.

“Also she has to have good eyes, I can tell just by looking at her eyes what she is like. I don’t drink or smoke for religious and personal reasons, I wouldn’t like a woman to smoke but it’s her choice if she wants to drink.”

This man doesn’t prefer a particular ‘type’ of woman. When asked about looks he replied; “Anyone can be beautiful, it’s what you see” And he scores more brownie points by preferring womanly curves to size zero. “I like curves on a woman, definitely not too skinny.”

Asked to describe the perfect first date the romantic tells me he would whisk her away to Rio De Janerio; “We would have dinner and dance on the beach.”

When he does find the one Junaid plans to propose the old fashioned way. “You have to; I will get down on one knee and do it properly.”

A modern man, Junaid understands that not everything today is still traditional. When asked if the woman he marries has to be a virgin he said no. “I think its rubbish, everyone has a past and I don’t care about their past.”

So has this bachelor ever been in love? “No because for me love is something extreme, so full of passion. My theory about love is you would kill yourself to protect someone else and there is one girl I would do that for, but she’s only two years old!  I would do anything for my niece, she’s my world.”

Talking of children, I ask him his views on parenthood; “I would like one of each, I want them to be well educated but I won’t be a pushy parent, I’ll go dancing with my kids!”

Seeming too good to be true, I ask Junaid what his bad habits are. The best he apologetically offers? “I’m always on time - I’m told girls hate that?”

He doesn’t even get jealous. “You have to trust each other or what’s the point. My dad’s a wise man and he said never lie. It’s the best piece of advice” Laughing he adds; “I wouldn’t wind a woman up, I know how dangerous they can get!”

So finally, how is it possible that this man is still single?!  “I’m too shy to ask women out, I’m not good with first moves.”

Well that’s your answer ladies. If you like what you have read, you need to ask him out - and quickly. Trust me this is one bachelor that won’t be single for long.