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FOXcom_Host: Yay! Welcome to the Sexiest Bachelor in America - (wow)!

Tom_Gill: Hello! This is Tom Gill and I'm chatting from the back of a limo. I just got into Kennedy airport, and I'll be here being interviewed on some shows tomorrow.

menrule: How did you hear about this competition?

Va_Babe16: Who thought of the idea of you entering the contest?

Tom_Gill: I was out in San Diego at a Lifeguard competition and 3 of the production assistants were asking guys to apply for the show.
Tom_Gill: and I agreed after a couple of "No"s, I told them I wasn't going to do it, but they kept making me.
Tom_Gill: Then I got a call about a week later that I was chosen to be the finalist from Virginia.

hermione: hey tom - why did you enter the pageant? and what do you plan on doing with your title? Acting? Modeling?

Tom_Gill: I decided to do it because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I felt good about what they were going to do on the show.
Tom_Gill: We were gonna wear all of our clothes. That was important.
Tom_Gill: And it was a chance for a teacher in a small town in Virginia that I could not pass up.
Tom_Gill: On the second question... I've been working on saving up for a house and that will go a long way towards the down payment.

jaylovestommy: are you quitting teaching to pursue acting, modeling, movies etc?

Tom_Gill: Not at the moment.
Tom_Gill: One of my characteristics, good or bad, is that I am pretty loyal and I want to be loyal to the students and athletes that I teach and coach.
Tom_Gill:But also, I'm not going to turn down any offers without looking first.

Va_Babe16: What grade do you teach?

Tom_Gill: I teach seniors in HS, A.P. Government.

khunter: Tom, how has this experience changed you. Any negative feedback from school?

Tom_Gill:There's always people that don't agree with a competition like this, but almost every comment has been supportive and kind about what I did and how I did it.
Tom_Gill: It's been very positive.

nora: have you been chastised by your male friends for being in the show?

Tom_Gill: No, they're my friends and they have loved every second of it.
Tom_Gill: It was a great thing that they're all very excited about it.
Tom_Gill: But they do joke me a lot.

Juniper: Do you feel that these sorts of pageants dehumanize people?

Tom_Gill: No, obviously, if I did, I wouldn't do it.
Tom_Gill: But hopefully people will see that it's not all just about looks. There's a lot more to it I hope.

hermione: Did your mom watch the show? And what did she think about you being in the pageant?

Tom_Gill: My mom watched the show with myself and the rest of my family and friends last night.
Tom_Gill: Her first reaction wasn't great. But the more she thought about the more she grew to support the idea and is now very supportive and proud that I did it.

bashfulblu: congratulations, tom! i thought you handled yourself really well. were you nervous at all or were you as calm as you looked?

Tom_Gill: I was pretty nervous, but things were moving so fast and there was so energy in the MGM Grand Arena that there was almost no time to really be nervous or scared about what was happening.

menrule: Did you feel any negative competition from the other guys on the show? Like the ones who did this for exposure?

Tom_Gill: No, I didn't.
Tom_Gill: Since nobody knew how they were judging the competition, in other words what really mattered to the judges...
Tom_Gill: whether it would be the looks, the style or the personality and since none of us had trained for this like most women in pageants we all decided to have as much fun as we could and put on a great show.

foxxxy: Tom...did you get along good with the other guys? Any hard feelings?

Tom_Gill: Not that I saw. We had a great time.
Tom_Gill: I would have felt good about anyone else having won this, and they all could have, any of the 51 guys.
Tom_Gill: And they were all extremely excited and happy for me after it was over.

Va_Babe16: Who did you become good friends with?

Tom_Gill: I became good friends with about everybody. I was finding things in common with a lot of guys.
Tom_Gill: Teddy from Maryland and all the guys at the end of the state alphabet, we all became good friends as we were getting ready to go on the show each time.

LUISA: Who do you think was your strongest competitor and why?

Tom_Gill: Again I though anyone of the 51 guys could have won this, so I'm still amazed that I won.
Tom_Gill: It could have been any of the 51 guys taking home the prize and the medals.
Tom_Gill: I thought every guy had something to offer the competition.

Juniper: What do you think Sexy means?

Tom_Gill: Sexy means something different to everybody.
Tom_Gill: Some people think it's looks, some people think it's personality or intelligence
Tom_Gill: I like to think it's a combination of all of the above.

nora: Do you think the contest represented what it really is to be sexy? That a man's heart is more important?

Tom_Gill: It depends on what people are looking for when they turned on the TV last night.
Tom_Gill: To some people, they were just looking for the guys with great bodies and all the looks
Tom_Gill: and I hope they were pleasantly surprised to find a lot of that, but a lot of good personality and strong intellect as well.

Va_Babe16: Do you have a girlfriend?

Tom_Gill: Not at the moment.

Lynna: Tom, many women will want to get "close" to you now that you are famous...how will you handle this attention and what will help you see through the groupies to find your soul mate?

Tom_Gill: That's a tough one!
Tom_Gill: First of all, I don't know how many groupies I'll have out in VA Beach or Suffolk where I teach.
Tom_Gill: I guess I'm careful about letting people get real close to me, so I think that will serve me well in the next few months.

johnny: Now that you've been on TV, how will you determine who wants to date you and not Mr. Sexy Bachelor?

Tom_Gill: I think it will be pretty easy to see. I don't think I'll be out where it will be that easy to just go out and start dating or grab the next person who comes along.
Tom_Gill: It takes more than that. I'm not the kind of person who just dates, so I think I'll be okay.

Jenny: would you ever date someone who was interested in you after they saw the show?

Tom_Gill: Sure!
Tom_Gill: And not to be shallow, but a lot more people know me now than knew me Monday morning.
Tom_Gill: If there's someone I want to date and I find attractive in all the right ways.. Why not?

CJ64: What are your current goals regarding a relationship?

Tom_Gill: I think relationships are a matter of timing and if the right time comes and I meet the right person, great!
Tom_Gill: If not, I'll keep being a bachelor until I find the right girl.

redhead: who is your ideal woman?

Tom_Gill: The right woman at the right time.
Tom_Gill: She doesn't have any specifications yet.

LiLiRiSh: Were u annoyed becuz like all the questions they asked were about sex and relationships?

Tom_Gill: We talked to the producers during rehearsals about some of the questions and they were quick to say "just answer the questions the way you want to answer them and don't feel pressure just to please the crowd or do something you are uncomfortable in saying"
Tom_Gill: So while the questions may not have been what we loved, we were given the freedom to answer them the way we wanted to answer them.

kitty: I'd have to say that it seemed that some of the replies of the other contestants may have said what they thought women would want to hear. Did you basically have any preparation whatsoever for the questions they asked?

Tom_Gill: We had heard questions similar during the rehearsals, so I think it was up to every guy to choose how they wanted to answer the questions when they came.
Tom_Gill: We did not know the exact questions, but we were not altogether unprepared for what was coming.

eternity: who thought up the questions that were asked

Tom_Gill: No, I believe the writers of the show, but I'm not really sure.

bashfulblu: i had you picked from the very beginning. some of the other guys seemed to be trying too hard to put forth the "romantic" image. i really liked your answer to the "provocative" question and your proposal answer was definitely the best one of the bunch. would you really propose to someone like that?

Tom_Gill: Probably not now, lol, but it occurred to me before.
Tom_Gill: And thank you for the compliment.

Allen: Here's an original question for Tom: According to Fox, the criteria for judging last night's competition was based on two categories -- personality and appearance. However, Fox only selected female judges. Other pageants include judges of both genders. Some might interpret Fox's decision to exclude male judges as homophobic. Do you think that you would have won if judges represented both genders?

Tom_Gill: Actually we talked about that a little bit, the fact that we thought they may have brought in a male judge or two, whether they were a fashion consultant or a magazine editor,
Tom_Gill: but part of Fox's appeal for the show was a role-reversal, men on stage for women.
Tom_Gill: And I think that's why they went with all female judges.

bailey: What are your responsibilities now that you've won the title?

Tom_Gill: Being that this was the first ever, I think the responsibilities will kind of form themselves throughout the year.
Tom_Gill: If there were to be a world pageant, I would be responsible for representing the U.S.

JayHabel: How was school today? Was it a little more interesting than the average day at NSA?Congrats by the way!

Tom_Gill: Hello Jay. School was fun today, but just to let you know, my students still took notes.

menrule: So if you were asked to give up teaching as a result of this new title, would you?

Tom_Gill: I don't think you would ever have to give up teaching. It's a career that will always be there.
Tom_Gill: And I don't think that I would ever do anything to endanger my job or my ability to teach now or in the future.
Tom_Gill: Oh My God! I'm in New York looking at skyscrapers right now!
Tom_Gill: This is my first time in New York!

johnny: Will you be doing David Letterman?

Derrille: Will you be making any guest apperances on talk shows?

Tom_Gill: If they invite me, I'd love to do Letterman.
Tom_Gill: I will do talk shows on a case by case basis. But of course they have to want me first. I don't how many will be interested in talking to me.

golden25: Even though this was a first for males, did you think that the competition was set up fairly in judging you to be the Sexiest Bachelor? Not that you didn't deserve it though Tom =)

Tom_Gill: There's a first time and the first time is never going to be perfect.
Tom_Gill: I'm really happy with the way it was judged, lol.
Tom_Gill: But I think in the future, the only way for it to be more fair is for more people to know about it and have a chance to apply.
Tom_Gill: I think the judges will always have biases and personal favorites that will be different with every show.

vegasbaby: how did you feel when you were asked about "provocative sex locations" - especially with your students watching?

Tom_Gill: It wasn't quite the easy question that other guys had received so far.
Tom_Gill: But, I knew that if a question like that was going to be asked, I was going to give my honest answer of how I felt about the how the question should be answered.

CJ64: You did a great job of answering the question!!!

Tom_Gill: Thank you.

kresp: Where There any question you would have liked or expected to be asked ?

Tom_Gill: No, because again, this was a first time deal so expecting anything was probably the biggest mistake you could make.

Derrille: Why do you say you're a Southern Gentleman?

Tom_Gill: I was raised in the south in Virginia. I've always believed in chivalry and a gentleman's code of conduct.
Tom_Gill: I'm not anti-feminism or women's rights or equality, but I do believe in treating a woman well and courteously.

Derrille: Good answer! Thanks.

BeachBoy: do you think you southern gentleman ideals helped you to win?

Tom_Gill: I think it helped, yeah.

FredEarle: Congratulations Tom. What is the one thing about you that you think was most significant in winning this contest?

Tom_Gill: I think just being a regular person as a teacher and someone who's tried to do a lot for the community and somebody who has no clue about being a celebrity.

mouse: Are you going to use your new celebrity status to champion any worthy causes or charities?

Tom_Gill: Sure, I already work for and with some great organizations from local organizations like the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad to organizations like raising money for the American Cancer Society and International Organizations like Operation Smile.
Tom_Gill: But anytime I can help people in need, I will do my best to help.

Minnie: Tell us about Operation Smile.

Tom_Gill: Operation Smile is an international organization that started right in Norfolk, Va.
Tom_Gill: Their main goal is to perform surgeries on children with cleft lips and cleft pallates, but also to help any children with deformities as well as adults.
Tom_Gill: They do their work both within the U.S. and around the world.

Amber: Hi Tom, I just wanted to say congrats and I think it was wonderful what you did for Operation Smile.

Tom_Gill: Thank you Amber. There's always more to be done.

CJ64: Operation Smile ... is a great organization!! Have they seen any responce to your win?

Tom_Gill: Yes, the local main office called I believe to say congratulations and to talk about some future events that I can help them with.

mouse: How did you get involved with Operation Smile?

Tom_Gill: Because the organization was founded in Norfolk, the founders Bill and Kathy Magee, their children attended Norfolk Academy with me.
Tom_Gill: So I've known about it since its inception in the mid 1980s.

Kokopelli: Tom you were the most real man out there, and I've got to tell you I think your an amazing dancer. I was wondering if you'd like to be my dance partner sometime? : )

Tom_Gill: I'd love to if we ever get the opportunity.

klink: What did you think of the girl you danced with? Any fire there?

Tom_Gill: lol, unfortunately I did not have enough time to get to know her.
Tom_Gill: But I am hoping to find her address at some point and at least thank her for being a part of the show.

VanceMan: It's great that you (along with Mr. Arizona) seem to be the only two men in the contest to have chest hair? Was there any pressure to shave before the competition?

Tom_Gill: No, absolutely not!
Tom_Gill: They continuously wanted us to be ourselves and that was one of the great things about the show.

aspen: Tom, nice to see a guy with chest hair win it all. Did a lot of the others shave their chests?

Tom_Gill: I never saw any guy shaving their chest at the show so I think everybody came as they are.

MattHorton: Tommy i was wondering how you will treat your old friends now that your famous?

Tom_Gill: I will always be happy to sit down with old friends, especially old lifeguard buddies like Matt.

Kokopelli: Tom you were wonderful. My girlfriend and I had you pegged as the winner from the beginning. What was your favorite and least favorite part of the pageant?

Tom_Gill: As far as the actual show, my favorite part was just getting to do all the things we had rehearsed for so many hours.
Tom_Gill: And my least favorite part was when any of the other guys were eliminated from the competition.

menrule: What would you have changed about your performance on the Sexiest Bachelor show!?

Tom_Gill: At this point, nothing, lol.
Tom_Gill: And I wasn't sure until I saw the show last night how it really looked, but based on the outcome and the response of my family and friends, I'm really pleased at this point.

Becky: How old are you Mr. Gill?

Tom_Gill: I'm 29-years-old. I'll be 30 in March.

ZeeLV: You seemed to be shaking your head ever so slightly during the swimsuit competition...what were you thinking?

Tom_Gill: I was thinking that was one of the strangest things in the world for me to be on a stage with all these women cheering for me in a bathing suit.

floyd: where did you learn those crazy dance moves?

Tom_Gill: LOL
Tom_Gill: The great thing about the dancing is that they didn't make us do any crazy moves.

bashfulblu: i thought carolyn was really hilarious. was she like that behind the scenes as well?

Tom_Gill: Yes, we all like Caroline and I thought she did a great job handling the first ever male pageant.
Tom_Gill: And that was both during the show and during rehearsals.

julie: Tom- you said they filmed three different endings! Did you really know if you had won or not until last night or did you think you had a 1 in 3 chance?

Tom_Gill: We all believed that the first ending which was the one in which I won was the one they were going to use.
Tom_Gill: But the potential was there to change it if anything went really wrong.
Tom_Gill: But I still couldn't believe it until I saw it.

Laurena: what were the other endings?

Tom_Gill: The other endings weren't really done like the first one was.
Tom_Gill: The crowd was let out of the building and they simply chose two other guys beside me so we could all say that it was a possibility that they could change the ending.

napster: Is true that you have already been publicized on a va beach postcard?

Tom_Gill: Lol, yes, that happened about 10 years ago and I still haven't talked with the guy who made it.

CJ64: It seemed Caroline was saying exactly what so many women were thinking. Her joking about about all the beautifull men was very funny. Do you, or did the other men find that attractive or discomforting?

Tom_Gill: I think we all found it relaxing. It put everybody at ease.
Tom_Gill: Especially at rehearsal when she would joke around with us.
Tom_Gill: But I really don't think anyone found it offensive or they probably wouldn't have been on the stage.

BECKY: Tom: I think that you seem like an amazing person. If I could find a guy like you here in Missouri, I'd be very pleased!

Tom_Gill: Thank you Becky, but you have a great representative from Missouri in Stephen.
Tom_Gill: So, they're out there.

ZeeLV: Do you still plan on continuing the lifeguard gig on the weekends? I know I'd try to "drown" if I knew you were out there to save me!

Tom_Gill: Lifeguarding is done until next summer, but I have always planned to lifeguard as long as I'm able.

Skot: Did you ever really consider you might win?

Tom_Gill: Never!
Tom_Gill: Maybe not never.
Tom_Gill: I thought if I could get to the top 10, maybe I'd have a chance because of the interview section.
Tom_Gill: But realistically, no, I never imagined winning.

nn30: were you surprised by the decision??? who did you think was going to win???

Tom_Gill: I was very surprised and I couldn't pick one or ten or even 20 guys who would definitely win or had a better than a 75% chance of winning.
Tom_Gill: I didn't think there were any favorites out there.

Laurena: if u had to pick someone other than yourself to win, who do you think it would be?

Tom_Gill: I couldn't do that. I would have been proud to have any of those guys represent us and was just honored to be at this point the one to represent them.

ZeeLV: Your eyes were closed when they announced you the winner. What was going through your mind at that moment?

Tom_Gill: I didn't know how I would react and the thought of actually winning the money and the reality of that becoming possible was a huge moment for a teacher like myself.

Suffolkrules: What did you do after you won? Vegas is a great place to celebrate!

Tom_Gill: We had a post-production party in the Studio 54 which is in the MGM Grand and I spent most of the night just talking to all the people involved in the production.
Tom_Gill: At that point it was sad as much as anything that the whole show was over.
Tom_Gill: You can call it post-production letdown.

khunter: Tom, crh said media was cool to you today. You were mentioned on Stern (heard it i here in FL). Ever want to be on Stern?

Tom_Gill: I don't know. I think Howard Stern is a great entertainer, but I think I'll just take the offers one at a time, if they come.

Jeanna: Mr Gill, as former students of your government class and athletes you coached, we, ginna, josie, tony, jeanna, and kyle, would like to congratulate you on your win!

Tom_Gill: Thanks for all the support and I hope to see you at homecoming.
Tom_Gill: Either NSA or William & Mary. julie: Tom have fun in NYC!! Congratulations - Julie, Marc & Madison

golden25: Congrats Tom....and if you're ever in Michigan, I'd love to show you around

Tom_Gill: lol

Lynna: You had a forty something woman and her mother swooning. Thanks!

brew: Mr. Gill - keep us NSA graduates updated on all that you're doing! We're proud to claim you!

kitty: Come to buffalo, ny and have a brew with me tom, I'd be honored

NSAswimmer: Congrats from your favorite sophmore girl swimmer, Coach Gill!

Dana: Tom the girl you eventually marry will be the luckiest girl on earth!

Tom_Gill: Thank you very much for all your kind words and I especially want to thank Nash Entertainment and Fox Television for the incredible opportunity.

CJ64: As a fellow Virginian and High Social Studies teacher, you made us all proud!!! When you come to visit your MD and DC budies, I would love to give you a personal tour of Old Town Alexandria. Take care !!!

Va_Babe16: BYE TOM!!! COME AND VISIT US IN ALEXANDRIA

GIA71: CONGRATS FROM NY

sheli: Congratulations, Tom!

poppa: Night Tom - Take care!!!

Dipsy2115: I LOVE YOU!

Elizabeth: Tom, We were all rooting for you here at Va Tech!

ferret: hey thanks gill for all you've done. glad to know you won

SUFFOLKGAL: have fun tomororw nite, tom!!! see ya, lisa

Rene: Tom, I hope you have a great time as the Sexiest Bachelor in America! Enjoy!

nikk: congratulations and good luck!

Cathy: Tom, great job! I picked you to win right from the start!

bashfulblu: congratulations again! you deserved it!

KellyGal: Congratulations Tom..the best man truly won!

ZeeLV: Congrats Tom! Thanks for being here!!

Va_Babe16: Bye Tom!!! come and visit Alexandria!!!!!!!!

Bella: Congrats! I'm from VA and I'm proud that you represented my state. You seem like a really nice guy. I hope I can find a guy like you someday.

LiLiRiSh: Congratulations Tom!

NSAmj: Congrats Mr. Gill, and good luck on the upcoming events! ~NSA sophomore student

gonz: Way to go, from Gettysburg College

golden25: It was nice to see that there are lots of great guys out there, everywhere and I think that all of you did a great job of representing your States.....Congrats Tom

FOXcom_Host: Thanks to all the chatters who came to our FOX.com chat with the Sexiest Bachelor in America!
FOXcom_Host: You guys asked some awesome questions!
FOXcom_Host: You can see yourselves in the transcript tomorrow on FOX.com!
FOXcom_Host: You're now immortal!
FOXcom_Host: Have a great night, and thanks again for being here!