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11th May 2023
11:42am BST
A woman fed-up with "horrendous" dating experiences started demanding men send her a 500-word essay to date her.
And, rather than turning potential suitors off, Lauren Kempton was inundated with applications. One even included a PowerPoint presentation.
Nevertheless, the 36-year-old is still single.
Lauren said she wrote a post requesting the essay on her Hinge profile as a "bit of a joke".
The mum-of-one requested men send her an essay on "how you will not waste any time".
Lauren got several responses - including a stand-out application from one man who even made an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
But, despite going on a date with her "winning" match, the pair didn't hit it off and Lauren remains single. She's even taking a break from dating apps.
Lauren,, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, said: "I've had mostly really bad experiences with the dating apps - the culture of dating online is shocking.
''I've had some awful dates but mostly it's boring - the same old conversations.
"People might think asking for an essay was full on of me but it was really a bit of fun, I didn't expect someone to make so much effort."
Lauren, who works for a skincare clinic, said the dating initiative, "restored my faith in men", but she felt the need to take a step back from finding a partner.
"I'm putting my energy into other things and thinking 'if it will happen, it will happen'," she explained.
"But asking for an essay is definitely a good way of weeding out what you don't want."
After growing sick of being ghosted and flirty chats going nowhere, Lauren put the dating application request on her Hinge profile in May last year, having been single for two years after the end of a 10-year relationship with her child's dad.
She said she got a few responses - but one was stand-out and landed himself a date.
He asked Lauren for her email address and wrote her a detailed essay - promising to "reply swiftly to messages".
The man also promised not to waste each other's time if there "is no spark".
A portion of the essay read: "I would start by ensuring that any plans we made were kept to.
"This would also include indoor and outdoor date plans depending on the weather, time, cost etc. (this includes agreeing to a Harry Potter Marathon)."
He added that he would "ensure that communication was prioritised, this includes contact methods such as, text, call, FaceTime - all of which can be done depending on Lauren's preferred method of contact."
The man also set out some expectations of his own, writing that he is "a big fan of knowing where I stand with people, if you like me, let me know, if you don’t, let me know".
"This would ensure that Lauren's time is not wasted on dating someone that there is no connection or spark with.
"This obviously works both ways, but the focus of this essay is regarding Lauren’s time."
It came accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation and after the pair matched they began speaking and arranged a date.
Intrigued if a romance could blossom, Lauren met up with him - but unfortunately, it didn't go anywhere.
Lauren recalled: "It (the essay request) got a few different responses at the time but I've been single for three years now and I've not found something I'm ready to settle down for.
"At the time, the request did illicit some good conversations, like interviewing someone - because you're already saying you're not going to put up with time-wasters.
"It’s a good way of getting people to show their humorous side, and spend a bit of time making an effort.
"It shows you who they are and that they have read your profile and understand your humour.
"But I needed a new tactic so I'm not really on the apps any more."
Lauren added: "If I cant get what I want out of the apps, I figured it will happen when it's supposed to."
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