Lake Stevens landscaper named state's hunkiest bachelor by Cosmo magazine

In the November issue, Cosmopolitan magazine reveals its annual hunk-fest edition with the eye-candy photo spread “Hottest Bachelors of 2009.”

Inside the pages and online women can flip through the pictures of the 51 sexiest single guys from across America and read about their turn-ons and their dating pet peeves, and e-mail them messages.

When women readers get to Washington state, they'll feast their eyes upon Patrick McMahon, a Lake Stevens landscaper who described his experience being selected by Cosmo as the hottest bachelor in all of Washington as “surreal.”

With his bushy long hair and bare chest, McMahon joked that though he just turned 26 — his birthday was Friday — he looks about 16 in his Cosmo picture.

And though this instant celebrity might help him meet more women or wrack up more Facebook friends, McMahon hasn't lost his sense of humor or sense of perspective about the Cosmo experience.

He doesn't expect a modeling career. “I'm very comfortable being a landscaper,” McMahon said.

And finding happiness with the right woman? Sure, in due time. But right now the Cosmo exposure might not be the best way to make that happen.

“Now I have the e-mail address so I get crazy girls from all over the world writing me,” McMahon said in a phone interview.

“They range from cute to pretty creepy,” he said. “There was one girl who is incarcerated so I can't even talk to her without filling out some jail form.”

Still, McMahon doesn't discount the thrill of this temporary national renown. He called being in Cosmo “an honor.”

“My dad was recognized at the pharmacy and the lady started hitting on him,” McMahon joked. “And my sister is feeling pretty proud of herself and her wonderful writing ability.”

McMahon's sister Kristen, 22, was how this rags-to-riches — well, not really riches, though McMahon did receive a $500 stipend — story began.

His sister nominated him without telling him, and when McMahon received the phone call in May, he was at a loss, having never heard of Cosmo's Hottest Bachelor contest.

“I'm a Sports Illustrated guy,” he said.

McMahon flew out to New York for a photo shoot.

Two weeks ago on a second trip, McMahon taped a session for the “Today” show,” visited the Wilhelmina Modeling agency, had lunch at the Cosmo offices and hung out with pretty Cosmo ladies.

Later, he attended a bachelor party where, for the first time, he said, he wore makeup and it wasn't Halloween. And he strutted on a cat walk.

“Hey, I'm a landscaper,” McMahon said. “I was way out of my element.”

McMahon has been a landscaper since he was 18. He was expelled from school and his dad told him at the time that going to school was a privilege and if he wasn't going to school, he'd push shovels.

Today, McMahon said he makes $25 an hour, has a solid work ethic and is learning all aspects of the landscaping business.

He said he's been told he has potential to be a model but he has a-wait-and-see attitude about it. McMahon said he is, however, enjoying his newfound bachelor abilities, such as more self-confidence and more ease talking to women.

“I didn't actually believe all this until I was at the airport,” McMahon said. “But it's real — you can't take me out of that magazine.”

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.