Sexiest Man 2009

We said it would be the hottest event of the season and, boy, was it ever...

With tickets sold out three weeks in advance (and over 200 poor souls still looking for more), Thursday 10 September saw a stampede of Northern Ireland’s sharpest-dressed, sauciest and sexiest denizens flocking to The Northern Whig in Belfast – all eager to register their votes in deciding the winner of the prestigious title Pepsi Sexiest Man 2009.

Our finalists were put through their paces in front of a howling, hormone-fuelled throng by a divine duo: dashing DJ Pete Snodden and gorgeous Gemma Garrett. It soon became crystal clear that each of our finalists had brought along his own following – but we spied much swapping of allegiances (and more than a few telephone numbers) as the party raged on into the wee small hours…

And the winner is...

Soon, the suspense became too much for us. But with the addition of five cheeky new categories, we had to wait just a little longer to unveil our winner. Our new Best Dressed category went to William Moore. The saucy Sexiest Bum title was won by a delighted Moe McCartan. Best Body was undoubtedly Brian Boyd, who even stripped to prove it! Sexiest Smile went to Northern Woman favourite Joseph Quinn; and our new Mr Congeniality was the very lovely Rob Rea.

But finally, a close-run race was won by Eamon McCrory, a 24-year-old advertising executive from Belfast, whose laid-back attitude and cute smile carried him to victory. Eamon walked away with £1,000 cash courtesy of Pepsi, a jam-packed goody bag and, thanks to Northern Woman, the chance to donate proceeds from ticket sales to the charity of his choice. This year, the deserving recipient will be The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Says Eamon: “I never expected any of this, to be honest, but I’m absolutely delighted to win.”