Justin Timberlake isn’t the only one who can bring sexy back.
For the third year in a row, in fact, we’re back with 18 of the most interesting, attractive, sexy, and magnetic personalities in all of Memphis.
They pour your drinks, help you into downward-facing dog, or may even conduct a little cross-examination. And that’s in their day jobs!
Basma Sakan, 20
Occupation: Manager of Raffe’s Beer Garden
Sign: Aquarius
Status: Single
Her first name, which means “smile” in Arabic, perfectly sums up this fetching, raven-haired daughter of Syrian immigrants. By day, she’s a University of Memphis student, but starting at 4 p.m., she manages the popular new bistro in the rear of her parents’ Poplar Avenue deli. Needless to say, she’s the main attraction — along with a truly impressive assortment of imported beers.
Describe yourself in three words.
Ambitious, determined, sassy.
Worst job you’ve ever had.
Babysitting three kids one New Year’s Eve. One of them cried all night long.
Have any deal-breakers?
Lying, hypocrisy, ignorance. [Pause] Sluts!
Do you go on blind dates?
No, I’ve never needed one.
Any hidden skills?
I can roll my stomach, belly-dancer style. [Demonstrates]
Night owl or early bird?
Night owl. [Does the Basma smile and laughs.] Until I pass out!
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
Devise a fair immigration policy.
Favorite food?
Anything fried.
Advice for anyone wanting to date you?
Good luck!
What are you afraid of?
Anything that crawls.
Does that include any of your customers?
[The Basma smile and a hearty laugh.]
Greg Love, 35
Justin Fox Burks
Basma Sakan
Occupation: City Planner
Sign: Taurus
Status: Single
With a name like Greg Love, one would think this City Hall hottie would already be tied down. But, ladies, there’s no ring on this man’s finger. Love spends his days tucked away in the Office of Planning and Development, carefully mapping out the city’s future.
What are reading now?The autobiography of David Rockefeller, the Bible, Think Like a Billionaire by Donald Trump.
Ever gone skydiving?No. I’d rather just go have a couple drinks at the bar. That seems like a better way to spend a couple hours.
What’d you eat for breakfast this morning?A piece of wheat bread and a glass of orange juice. My days are sometimes kind of full, so I like to get protein, and I typically have a couple of boiled eggs or oatmeal. But right after Christmas, somebody at the cleaners shrunk all my clothes. I couldn’t fit into anything. So I thought maybe I’ll cut back on a few things.
Any hidden talents?I can make stuff. I think I’m pretty handy.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I don’t really play, but I’ve got a trumpet at home that I play every now and then.
Football or soccer?
Both are cool, but I’m not a big spectator. I like X Games.
Best feature?My ability to see the glass as half full.
Favorite drinking game?I don’t really play those anymore. I like to take my time and drink when I want and sip it down when I want. I don’t do the beer bongs or play “I’m going on a trip.” But I’m not saying I won’t do it if the party calls for it.
Andrew Couch, 27
Justin Fox Burks
Greg Love
Occupation: Executive Director for West TN Clean Cities, biofuels consultant for FBA Consulting
Sign: Taurus
Status: Not Married, Not Single
The former owner of Deep Fried Rides may have sold his biodiesel business and become a consultant, but he’s still working for the environment. And he sure cleans up nice.
When was the first time you got your heart broken?
Age 5. I was smitten with my babysitter. … She was disgusted.
What is your best feature?
My liver … it’s reliable, durable, well-maintained.
Night owl or early bird?
Chicken hawk.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
Tender my resignation and announce the appointment of my replacement, Vice President A C Wharton. I believe A C would take good care of the rest.
Any advice for anyone wanting to date you?
Call Tiffany and ask if it’s okay. Do not apply in person. Or seek guidance from a greater wisdom than what currently propels you.
What are you afraid of?
Wastefulness.
Jodi Brewer, 35
Justin Fox Burks
Andrew Couch
Occupation: Mother, artist, activist
Sign: Pisces
Status: Married
Oh, to be a muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention and with incredible beauty and perfect grace inspire mere mortals to build cathedrals, compose symphonies, and paint the elusive masterpiece. In every interview he’s ever given, Craig Brewer, Memphis’ most celebrated filmmaker, has stated in no uncertain terms that without his lovely wife Jodi, he’d be just another schmoe with a screenplay.
Describe yourself in three words.
Creative, giving, and cuckoo.
Favorite movie?
The Misfits.
Deal-breakers?
Must be funny!
What did you eat for breakfast?
A cup of coffee and a shot of wheatgrass.
Night owl or early bird?
Early bird.
What music are you listening to right now?
Otis Redding.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
Completely rethink the system of education.
Would you consider yourself a lover or a fighter?
A lover.
Justin Fox Burks
Sarla Nichols
Favorite food?
Roquefort on a baguette and a glass of wine.
Is there anything you’re afraid of?
Public speaking, but I’m learning.
Marlinee Iverson, 35
Occupation: Attorney
Sign: Sagittarius
Status: Single
As a prosecutor in criminal court, Marlinee Iverson isn’t about getting people off. But if it means breaking the law to be able to chat her up, we’ll gladly do so.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Funny, self-absorbed, non-punctual.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I play the piano and the xylophone.
The xylophone?
Justin Fox Burks
Jodi Brewer
I was in the marching band in high school. It was the only instrument that didn’t require me to march.
Do you go on blind dates?
I’ve never been on one, but I don’t have anything against them.
That’s probably because you’ve never been on one. Any deal-breakers?
Being really controlling. And bad breath.
Do you work out?
Yes. I swim, bike, run, lift weights.
Sounds like you could do triathlons.
I do triathlons and marathons. I did the Chicago marathon in October.
Is there anything you’re afraid of?
The Sixth Sense scared me. I don’t like to be caught off guard.
Carrie Ann Rohrscheib, 30
Occupation: Attorney
Sign: Aries
Status: Single
There are worse ways to go broke than with Carrie Ann Rohrscheib. The 30-year-old Little Rock native and Chapter 11 bankruptcy specialist at Hale, Dewey, and Knight practically makes the process painless — well, at least until your company’s debt obligations are reorganized and your creditors own everything.
Ever had a broken heart?
Nah. I’m usually the heartbreaker.
So you’re a dream crusher?
It’s not intentional. It just happens. I swear!
Lover or fighter?
Fighter. Definitely. I like to win.
What would you do if you were president?
I’d do … not anything that George W. said in the State of the Union address. I’d do the exact opposite of everything he said.
What are you most afraid of?
In general? Not succeeding at something that I really wanted to do. You can’t win all of the time, but I try.
You said “In general …”
Right now, this interview. [Laughs]
How’d you wind up in Memphis?
I went to college at Rhodes. I majored in art.
Art major turned bankruptcy lawyer. How’d that happen?
Student loans. [Laughs] It was actuallyart history, not art. I was a performance artist and now I’m a lawyer … no.
Lastly, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?
I don’t know, because I always bite. I’m not that patient.
Dmitry Batishchev, 27
Justin Fox Burks
Carrie Ann Rohrscheib & Marlinee Iverson
Occupation: Marketing Executive
Sign: Gemini
Status: Single
By day, this Ukrainian native works for a local fan company. But by night, he and Salsa Memphis partners are the ones twirling.
Describe yourself in three words.
Energetic, patient, and foreign.
Worst job?
Dishwasher.
Favorite movie?
Napoleon Dynamite.
Favorite drinking game?Quarters. People sit around a table and everybody has a cup and a quarter. You have to bounce a quarter off the table and make it into a cup. If you don’t make it, you drink.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you’d do?That’s not a question for me because I can’t be the president. I wasn’t born here.
Advice for potential suitors?Don’t hate foreigners.
What’s your favorite workout?
I’m preparing for a mountain climb, so that involves some lifting and some cardio. I’m going on a group climb in Colorado this summer.
Do you have any fears?A fear of heights. It’s weird because I’ve gone skydiving and I climb. Maybe I’m just confused. I like a challenge.
Lisa Parish, 35
Justin Fox Burks
Dmitry Batishchev
Occupation: Bartender
Sign: Aquarius
Status: Single
You can find her mixing drinks — and setting a few on fire — at Cactus Jack’s, the country nightclub at Lamar and Winchester, and the newly opened King Biscuit Diner in Cordova. Lisa Parish dreams of a future as a DJ but needs no microphone to broadcast her infectious lust for life.
What is the worst job you’ve ever had?
I also model. I had to work a flight trade show with a bunch of pilots; it was the longest eight hours of my life. I had to wear a flight suit, and I was just like a piece of meat to those pilots.
Ever bungee jumped?
Yes I have. My friends had to talk me into going the first time, but after that I was hooked. I went three more times.
Any hidden skills?
I am a DJ waiting to come out. Give me a mic and give me a light. … I missed my calling!
What would your deejay name be?
DJ Star.
Best feature?
I have to say it’s my mouth. I am loud and proud, and I meet no strangers.
Night owl or early bird?
Oh, I’m a night owl, but let me tell you, I’m a jack-in-the-box in the morning. My “mini me” has to be at school, and I may get in at 6 a.m., but at 7 a.m., it’s rise and shine.
Favorite drink?
I’m all about some Flaming Dr Pepper, all about the fire. Anything to draw more attention to the table.
Katrina Shelton, 38
Justin Fox Burks
Lisa Parish
Occupation: Manager of business recruitment for the Center City Commission/Designer
Sign: Scorpio
Status: Single and Available
For national retailers, Katrina Shelton is the face of downtown Memphis, luring them to locate here. The former owner of Main Street’s Tonic, Shelton always looks good. And not just because she can design her own clothes.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
When I was 16 years old, I worked at McDonald’s for about two weeks. After I spilled hot French-fry oil on my Sebagos — the ’80s were all about preppy — I said, that’s it. I quit.
What’s your favorite outfit?
A Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress. It’s sexy but subtle. It’s very 38.
Very 38?
You’ve still got it; you just don’t flaunt it.
Have you ever gone skydiving?
No. I don’t think I want to. I like to minimize risk.
What’s your favorite drinking game?
Let’s see how many vodka tonics we can drink.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
Reform health care.
NPR says that’s the way to win.
I’m in it to win it. Health-care is a major issue right now.
Advice for anyone wanting to date you?
Be forthcoming and honest and adventurous. And hang on. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, as Bette Davis would say.
In high school, you were voted most likely to …
Become a model. Or go into fashion. Which is what I did. No one was surprised. I’ve been pretty much the same all my life.
High heels or flats?
Heels, darling, for the calves. Every woman should wear them.
What are you afraid of?
Fear is a funny thing. So many fears cause people to be stagnant. Life is all about risks.
What about skydiving and minimizing risk?
You have to calculate the risk and make an educated decision. It’s all about perspective.
Tara Campbell, 33
Justin Fox Burks
Katrina Shelton
Profession: Group-fitness director at InBalance Fitness
Sign: Capricorn
Status: Married
Like the soup, Tara Campbell does a body good. This fitness instructor doesn’t like to do personal training — she compares it to babysitting — but if you go to her group step or power classes, watch out.
What’s your workout philosophy?
It should be fun. If it’s not fun, you should find another form of exercise.
Any hidden talents?
I don’t know if it’s a talent, but I can touch my tongue to my nose.
When was the first time you got your heart broken?
When my parents got divorced. I was 6.
Justin Fox Burks
Sarla Nichols
Do you play any musical instruments?
In high school, I played bassoon. I think I just wanted something different. I started on the clarinet, and they asked people to try out for the bassoon. It was just me and people who liked Star Trek.
Night owl or early bird?
Definitely early bird. My husband says I turn into Satan after 9 p.m.
What music are you listening to right now?
I have to listen to the classes I teach, so right now I’m listening to group step music.
What is group step music?
Mostly Top 40 pop music. If I had my choice, I’d be listening to Pearl Jam instead. I was supposed to marry Eddie Vedder, but it didn’t work out.
In high school, you were voted most likely to …
I wasn’t voted most likely to do anything. I played the bassoon.
David Mah, fortysomething
Justin Fox Burks
Tara Campbell
Artist/gallery owner
Sign: Libra
Status: Currently involved
How could we not include artist and gallery owner David Mah in our Hottie issue? Last August, Mah heated up Cooper-Young with “Erotica 2006,” an exhibition of sexually themed works from more than 25 artists. If that’s not hot, we don’t know what is.
What three words best describe you?
Humbled — I can think of at least 100 guys that are a lot hotter than me — sensitive, caring.
What’s the first thing you would do if you were president?
I’d immediately send the Bush administration on a permanent vacation to Guantanamo; they need some rest …
What do you think is your best feature?
My thick head of hair.
What’s your favorite drinking game?
“It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.”
Favorite food?
Bacon or key-lime pie.
In high school, you were voted …
I was voted Friendliest at Central High School, though in actuality I was just very needy.
Is there anything you’re afraid of?
Being severely mangled in some sort of freak accident, the result of not reading the instructions on how to use some type of heavy machinery.
Larry DeLancey, 33
Justin Fox Burks
Alwyn Callender
Occupation: Hairstylist/salon owner
Sign: Gemini
Status: Single
With a little business ingenuity and a flair for design, this entrepreneurial hairstylist took the shell of a smoke shop and transformed it into a full-service salon. Hi Gorgeous can make you exactly that, but it’s their ads — ripe with cheeky double entendres — that really turn heads.
Describe yourself in three words.
Dependable, honest, fun.
Deal-breakers?
Smoking. I’m a non-smoker.
What is your best feature?
My butt. That’s what everybody tells me, so …
Night owl or early bird?
Night owl … and early bird! I don’t go to bed until around 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30 … Well, no matter what I do, my eyes pop open at 5:36 every morning without an alarm clock! I get up, work out, take a shower, run errands, come to work …
Favorite drinking game?
I don’t have a favorite drinking game. When I was 22, I got sick on Quarters. We were drinking vodka. I cannot drink vodka to this day.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
World peace! [Laughing] We do a lot of pageant work, and the first thing they say is: “World peace!”
What are you afraid of?
Umm, let’s see … my hair falling out, gaining weight, not being a success …
Alwyn Callender, 51
Justin Fox Burks
David Mah
Occupation: Squash professional and instructor
Sign: Cancer
Status: Single
Alwyn Callender is one of the top senior squash players in the country. In 2006, he won an over-50 tournament in Atlanta where he beat a former national champion, and he did it on the other guy’s home court. Born in Guyana, Callender is part of the small but dedicated international squash community in Memphis.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Open-minded, sensitive, fun-loving.
What was your worst job?
Elevator operator during college.
What are your favorite TV shows?
The Sopranos, The West Wing.
Favorite movie?
Pulp Fiction.
Do you have any hidden skills?
International affairs.
What countries have you lived in?
Guyana, England, the U.S.
Any advice for someone wanting to date you?
They must be passionate about an interest of their own and allow me freedom for squash activities.
What are you afraid of?
Poverty.
Sammie Brunner, 19, Boyd Ruppelt, 23
Justin Fox Burks
Larry Delancey
Occupation: Students, kayakers
Sign: Aries, Aquarius respectively
Marital status: Engaged
This couple shares not just a love for each other but a love of the water. Boyd is a professional kayaker with Jackson Kayak, while girlfriend Sammie is his photographer.
If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you be?
Boyd: Costa Rica. The people are incredible, the food’s good, the rivers are amazing.
Any hidden talents?
Boyd: I used to do artwork. Not many people know that.
Sammie: I play the flute, and I pretty much rock at it.
Describe each other in three words.
Sammie: He’s energetic, adventurous, and, I don’t know, Aquarius.
Boyd: She’s definitely adventurous, responsible, and very social.
Have you ever gone skydiving?
Sammie: [Pause] Happy Birthday, Boyd! We’re about to. We’re going for his birthday. By the time this comes out, we will have gone skydiving.
Boyd: I don’t know what to say.
Did we just ruin a surprise?
Boyd: It’s okay. You just gave me time to prepare.
Sammie: I was just going to drive us to Birmingham and say, “Surprise!”
What would be your deal-breakers?
Boyd: Smokers and people afraid of the water.
What did you eat for breakfast?Sammie: I had three Lifesavers. I was in a hurry this morning.
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
Sammie: I would work on the school systems.
Boyd: Can I go with that one, too? [Laughs] What would I do, Sam?
Sammie: You’d probably just go kayaking somewhere.
If you were arrested, what do you think you would be arrested for?
Sammie: Public indecency.
This is a girl question: high heels or flats?
Sammie: Flats. I would fall and twist my ankle in high heels.
Boyd: But heels look better — that’s a guy answer.
Shan Mcdaniel, 25
Justin Fox Burks
Sammie Brunner & Boyd Ruppelt
Occupation: Photographer/actress/model & fashion-show producer
Sign: Virgo
Marital Status: Been there, done that … not again
As a photographer, model, and fashion-show producer, Shan McDaniel is all about looks. Umm, maybe that came out wrong.
Describe yourself in three words.
Ambitious, loyal, and intelligent.
Right now, where would you be?
Ooh la la! That would be Paris.
Favorite movie?
This wonderful ’80s movie, Fast Forward.
How would you describe your “type”?
Intelligent, ambitious, well-spoken, and well-traveled.
What did you eat for breakfast?
My favorite cereal: Trix!
High heels or flats?
High heels all the way.
In high school, you were voted most likely to what?
Succeed.
Do you have any advice for people wanting to date you?
Have a great sense of humor and make the first move.
Jonathan Magallanes, 31
Justin Fox Burks
Shan McDaniel
Occupation: Restaurateur
Sign: Pisces
Status: Single
Dubbed “Señor Dreamy” by one decidedly satisfied customer, this green-eyed adventurer takes the food preparation at Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana seriously.
Do you work out?
I do some sort of physicalactivity every day: swimming,tennis, running, or going to the gym.
Have you ever been skydiving?
About 500 times. My whole family skydives! This is me. [Points to a picture on the wall of a man in free-fall] That’s free-flying. We skydive on our head. You can go much faster.
Favorite food?
Blue Fin’s Toro Sashimi.
Any hidden skills?
Yes, but they’re going to remain hidden!
If you were president, what’s the first thing you would do?
I would abolish term limits for presidents.
What are you afraid of?
Not much. Well, bad food …
Sarla Nichols, 55
Justin Fox Burks
Jonathan Magallanes
Occupation: Founder and director of Midtown Yoga
Sign: Leo
Status: “Really married”
Does inner peace bring outer beauty? Judging by Midtown Yoga’s Sarla Nichols, the answer is yes.
Worst job you ever had?
I worked as an orthodontist’s assistant, and I had to clean the cement off kids’ teeth. Some of the kids’ teeth were really nasty.
Describe yourself in three words.
Strong, persistent, and fun-loving.
Favorite movie?
V for Vendetta.
What kind of music are you listening to right now?
I’m listening to a combination of techno and … I guess you’d call it yoga rap. That’s the best way I can explain it.
In high school, you were voted …
Most Likely To Get in Trouble. I just had a real wild side. I made great grades, but I got in trouble a lot.
