It’s not every day that you meet a man who is 31-years-old, a virgin, and telling everyone about it. In steps Las Vegas resident JimDre Westbrook. He’s known around town as ‘The 30-Year-Old Virgin,’ which is an impressive feat in a city overflowing with libations and temptations. For his 30th birthday, instead of throwing an epic party, Westbrook wanted to make the day memorable in a different way—he announced to friends and family that he was a virgin (via Facebook) and simultaneously launched WorthTheWaitGuy.com, a personal blog documenting his journey.
Westbrook credits his success thus far to his deeply rooted faith in God He is currently on a mission to encourage men and women to love who they are and live their lives accordingly. “I feel that living at your own pace is very important, not just to me, but to everyone,” says Westbrook. But what’s it like fighting temptation daily? How do women react to the news? Like you, we have a few questions…this is what he had to say.
ESSENCE: What are you waiting for exactly?
JIMDRE WESTBROOK: I’m waiting to experience sex with my future wife. This is something I came up with when I was 14 after my mother had ‘the talk’ with me right before I went to high school. She figured that just like any other mom or dad, that her child would eventually engage in sex. I thought that I could wait, and that if I could wait until marriage and share that experience with my wife for the first time, that would be the ultimate gift. It would be better than any diamond that I could give her.
ESSENCE: Are you single?
WESTBROOK: I am 100-percent single. I didn’t think I would even make it to being a 30-something virgin. If you’d asked me when I first made the promise to my mom at 14, when you’re 30 or 31, are you still going to be a virgin? I probably would’ve laughed at that, but I know that me being single at this age is part of God’s plan. I’m content with that.
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ESSENCE: Was your decision to wait more about your promise to your mom or to God?
WESTBROOK: First and foremost it’s a promise I made to God. Everything I do is for Him. It’s what I believe in.
ESSENCE: How do women respond to your virginity?
WESTRBOOK: “I normally reveal this to them early. I wouldn’t say that’s the first thing that I say. However, you kind of have to pick the right time. For me, honesty and being very transparent is the best. Usually the response is the response is very positive.
ESSENCE: What else makes you “worth the wait”?
WESTBROOK: I feel that I’m worth the wait because God’s worth the wait. I don’t think that I’m any different or more special than anyone else. I’m a human being; I’m not perfect. I’m a good man and I’m a God fearing man. I believe in myself and I’m a family man too.
ESSENCE: Does your future wife have to be a virgin?
WESTBROOK: No. In the world we live in today most of the women I will come in contact with will not be virgins. I’m not the one to judge people or to say she has to be exactly like me.
ESSENCE: Do other male virgins reach out to support and thank you for speaking out?
WESTBROOK: The feedback has been awesome. Since I came out with the news last year, not only other male virgins, but female virgins have also responded to my website, and said, “It’s awesome that you’re doing what you’re doing, and, yes, you’re not alone.” I know that I’m not the last man on earth doing this. It feels good to know that other people believe in the same thing that I believe in. It’s kind of like an informal fraternity. I have brothers and sisters in Christ who are also doing the same thing that I’m doing. That’s a pretty awesome thing to have to keep me doing.
ESSENCE: What is the overall message you hope to share by telling your story to the world?
WESTBROOK: My message isn’t to say, “We all need to stop having sex or we need to do this or that.” I want people to look themselves in the mirror and have some crucial conversations and figure out what truly makes them happy.
Want to learn more about Westbrook’s journey. Visit his blog, WorthTheWaitGuy.com and tune in to his first major TV appearance on The Steve Harvey Show Monday, June 8. Check local listings or go to SteveHarveyTV.com for time and channel info.
