Magazine contest finalist ranks as a reluctant hunk
Girls think 19-year-old Daniel Burleson is a hottie, but don't tell him we said so.
By SHAWNTAYE HOPKINS
Published May 28, 2005
CRYSTAL RIVER - Daniel Burleson's friends and relatives say he's got a lot of good qualities.
But thousands of young girls across the country are concerned about only one: He's pretty darn hot.
Burleson, 19, of Crystal River is one of 12 finalists in Cosmo Girl magazine's nationwide Battle of the Boys Contest. He had 18 percent of the votes Friday afternoon, ranking first among his competitors, one of whom is from DeLand.
Other finalists hail from cities such as New York and West Hollywood.
"Catherine Zeta-Jones could come and tell me I'm attractive, and I would still not think so," said Burleson, a 2004 Crystal River High School graduate.
Burleson's girlfriend of about two years, Tiffany Waters, disagrees. She nominated Burleson for the competition after realizing that, if he won, they would win $1,000 each.
Waters, 18, said Burleson really has helped older women with their groceries. And recently he didn't hesitate to drive a friend home from a party at 2 a.m. He had to work at Black Diamond Golf Course at 5:30 that morning, and he had a presentation due that afternoon at Central Florida Community College.
"I felt that Daniel's obviously a very attractive guy and he has a lot of good qualities," Waters said. "Maybe this'll prove it."
Burleson stood for a photographer Friday afternoon outside his home. At 6 feet 1, he often brushed his forehead with his fingertips and peered at his girlfriend, who was standing a few feet away.
Waters tried to show Burleson some poses, which he uneasily attempted. Burleson admitted that his mother and sister picked out the collared, blue-striped shirt he was wearing.
"I don't really like to be the center of attention," he said. "I don't want people to think I'm stuckup or something."
In the American Idol-like competition, about 4,000 people vote daily, said Jay Ehrlich, senior Web editor for the magazine. The two guys with the lowest percentage of votes each Tuesday will leave the competition, and the votes will be reset.
The last day to vote is July 3.
Cosmo Girl received hundreds of nominations for the competition, which began last summer. Each day, two nominees were posted for votes on the Web site. The person lasting until the end of the month became that month's finalist.
Burleson beat all of his competitors after his picture was posted during the first week of December.
Three wild cards were also chosen.
Burleson spends his time fishing, working out and hanging with friends. He plans to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University in August to study pharmacology.
But he's also been getting some unwanted attention.
His mother, Tina, is one of his biggest fans. She votes every morning before work at Crystal River Middle School.
"It's been kind of interesting," she said. "He's quiet and gets kind of embarrassed about it because he doesn't want it to be like he's boasting. And he doesn't want you bringing it up."
Burleson said he's been stopped at the mall, and he was once asked by a stranger to take a picture during a friend's graduation party.
Cosmo Girl representatives say he's also built quite a fan base: Several have sent letters and some request his e-mail address, which is confidential.
"I get kind of shy about it," Burleson said. "But I'll talk about it."
After all, his friends would say that's just the kind of guy he is.
To vote, visit cosmogirl.com/battleoftheboys.