Cougars: 8 Men for Every 1 Woman... Here

by ScrewingTheRules Dating Coach Laurel House

Cougars… get ready.
Cougars… get ready.

It's said by St Barth's locals that there are an average of 8 men for every 1 woman. Whether the actual numbers prove it or not, it certainly feels like it. And these men aren't just your average guys. Many of them are seriously attractive with amazingly tan bodies, a fun outdoorsy spirit, and a "what happens in St Barths, stays in St Barths" attitude.

Yes, this sexy island destination seems to be a playground for single and looking women, particularly cougars who are interested in having a good time with a seriously hot guy who speaks in a French accent. With rumors of A-list female celebrities who dock their yachts then go out looking for a good time, I had to see the action for myself. So I booked a trip with a girlfriend (who ended up having to cancel last minute), checked into Tom Beach- a 12 room boutique hotel, and took the few steps from my room to the white sand- ready to see if those "stats" were true. Not used to traveling on my own, I was honestly intimidated at first.

The hotel's La Plage Restaurant and bar definitely helped me take the edge off my nerves as I first settled into a table off to the side and ordered one of their fresh made green juices (which felt like coming home to Santa Monica). Noticing that I was by myself, the owner (who resembles a rock star in that Mick Jagger way) came and sat with me, instantly attracting attention from other guests and locals who came by to chat. And then a hot seaman emerged from the water carrying live lobsters that he had just caught. "You have to have one," the owner said in his fantastic accent. "You're at La Plage, it's time to enjoy life." 20 minutes later I had the most beautiful lobster in front of me, plus a glass of champagne. Full and slightly tipsy, I was able to take off my nerve-clouded glasses and truly see my surroundings- Hot men. Lots of them. Sure there were couples strolling, dining, dancing, drinking, and just having a great time, but there were also swarms of guys with maybe one woman in the center, each man vying for her attention.

Yes, the cougar is on the loose! And according to AYI.com, one of the largest social dating products on web and mobile with over 70 million Facebook installs and 2 million monthly unique visitors, there are more and more cougars on the prowl. AYI.com analyzed over 400,000 interactions between its users to see how likely a female member responds to a male member based on his age. The findings? Women are 17% more likely to respond to a guy 5% younger than a guy who is 5% older than her. And 47% more likely to respond to a man 15% younger than 15% older than her.

Feeling Sexy at La Plage
Feeling Sexy at La Plage

Why so many cougars? Divorce, marrying later in life, but also because society is changing. The cougar/sugar daddy double standard is finally diminishing. In fact, it's almost flip-flopping. Women today are empowered! We can date whomever we want, whenever we want, and any age that we see fit and STILL look, feel, and BE sexy. The reason is that women have learned how to be in control and still be sweet, be super feminine and still get exactly what we want. We are learning the delicate dance of having our cake and eating it too. And that dance is happening at La Plage in St Barth's.

It was Friday night and the staff was setting up for the hotel's infamous weekly "I Love Friday" dinner party, complete with a DJ flown in from New York, plus sensual but not overtly sexual pole dancers who gracefully swing from the pole in the center of the room. And that was just the first night… Yes, it's a slightly hedonistic retreat. But the goal is to enliven that side of you that you have for some reason subdued.

But it's not just women on the prowl who descend on St Barth's, this is the perfect place for women who are looking to feel beautiful again. Over 40 women in the US often feel looked over by their husbands whose eyes inadvertently or not are oogling younger women. While there are also younger women (many on the arm of older men) on St Barth's, this is a place to come where everyone feels beautiful, sexy and wanted- regardless of age or body type. More than it being inhabited by truly beautiful people, it's the attitude and energy that contributes to the beauty. It's where guards drop, inhibitions are released and residents and vacationers let themselves act and feel a little looser, a little more raw, a little hedonistic even. I'm not naming names, but several cougar celebrities have been spotted enjoying the environment of La Plage to it's fullest…

Paradise found.


xx
Laurel

credit: Steve Hansen
credit: Steve Hansen

Laurel House is an international Dating Coach and Flirting Expert, MTV's MADE "It Girl" Coach, 4x published Lifestyle Author, and a go-to Expert on E! News. She recently sold her 5th book "Screwing The Rules: The No-Games Guide to Love," which will be released in December 2014 with Running Press.

With over 12 million views on YouTube, Laurel has created a platform to deliver dating and healthy lifestyle tips to the masses. Laurel is a featured expert in Marni Battista's "Find Love Now" coaching program. Her dating tips appear on CupidsPulse.com, YourTango.com, SheKnows, and Giuliana Rancic's FabFitFun.com. Because of her edgy, honest, and wide-ranging advice, she is often referred to as the modern-day Ann Landers.