Update:
A stay-at-home father from Marietta has become the first to earn the title of “Most Chubbies Dad in America.”
The fan-favorite contest put on by Chubbies, a company that sells thigh-displaying shorts for men, announced Rooke as the winner Friday.
Rooke, 31, bested 1,800 contestants. The company pared those down to 20 finalists, and from those Rooke was crowned "the new king of dadding," according to the competition's website.
The AJC could not find a dictionary definition of the word "dadding."
Original (published June 6, 2017): Matt Rooke puts his short-shorts on one leg at a time.
But come Friday, that might all be different.
The Marietta man is a finalist for the "The Most Chubbies Dad" competition.
Chubbies, a company selling shorts that make people do a double-take, is looking for a model father ... to model.
The company describes finalists as those who “crush dad things, like getting their kids to school sort of on time, changing a diaper in under 5 seconds flat, and knowing that the key to any balanced meal is ice cream.”
Rooke is a stay-at-home father of three boys — Samuel, 9 months; Titus, 2 years; Jude, 4 years.
He spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by phone Tuesday afternoon during that sweet spot when all three were napping.
Credit: Sarah Andretta courtesy of Matt Rooke
Credit: Sarah Andretta courtesy of Matt Rooke
Rooke said he found out about the competition from the weekly Chubbies newsletter he was subscribed to and immediately knew he had to enter.
Rooke was selected as a finalist from 1,800 entries. The prize comes with a year’s supply of shorts for him and his boys and a two-year modeling contract.
“I don’t know what it means, but I don’t care. This is a cool title to have,” he said when asked about details of the prize.
The 31-year-old has seven pairs of the shorts. His most recent, orange with blue accents, came when his mother asked him what he wanted as a gift for his wedding anniversary.
Rooke, who graduated from Mount Paran Christian School in 2004, said he wishes he could afford more pairs, some of which cost $65.
“I’ve got champagne taste on a beer budget,” he said.
Rooke graduated from Auburn University (hence the orange and blue shorts) with a master’s degree in biomechanics with hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
But he and his wife Caroline, who he met at church growing up, decided it’d be best if he stayed at home and she go to work as a nurse at Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
He ends his biography posted online where folks can vote for him with this: "I would love to be the #mostchubbiesdad but, if America mistakenly decides on another candidate, I am already a winner because of my family."
Voting ends Thursday at midnight and winners will be announced Friday, just in time for Father’s Day.
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