Little Miss Wingwoman

I was at the races recently when an attractive young woman approached me. She smiled, asked my name, commented on my dress and then casually asked if I was there with my boyfriend. I wondered if she was selling something, but she hadn’t mentioned a new brand of vodka yet and I kind of figured she wasn’t chatting me up (she was wearing an engagement ring!). When she started talking about her friend Luke and how great he was, I thought maybe she was a swinger on the prowl. I was quietly flattered, of course, that she thought I was that saucy (note to self: busty, green dress is a winner). Turns out, though, she was a self-proclaimed ‘wingwoman’ – a woman who methodically scouts dates for single guys.

Two minutes later she was gone; four minutes later she was back – with the aforementioned Luke. She introduced us with some nonsensical bit of chitchat, then started chatting to one of my friends. So... Luke and I talked. And he left with my number. Which I realised was the plan all along. The girl had ‘sold’ Luke to me before bringing him over. Slick as a rat with a gold tooth, I tell you.

They wingwomen is an evolution of the wingman – the friendly, confident icebreaker in a group of guys who ‘warms up’ women while the other guys hang back and wait for their invite. The popularity of the wingwoman is largely fuelled by the unpopularity of the wingman. See, us ladies are savvy to wingman ways. We’ve developed reactive defence mechanisms (sometimes, but not always, involving fake and interminable toilet trips) to use on any guy brave enough to come over and prep us for his mate, Barry the trout farmer. Now, on the other hand, if Barry the trout farmer sent over an affable young lady to subtly do some groundwork first, his chances at cracking the group might be marginally better.

The Wingwoman Way
So, this is how it works. Mr Shy Single Guy decides he’s sick of not picking up. So, he asks Good Female Friend to go with him to a bar or hires himself a wingwoman. The two settle in with a drink and discuss what Mr Shy Single Guy’s after. Wingwoman is then given her target, possibly along the lines of, ‘Wow, I wouldn’t kick that blonde in the pink top out of bed for eating Nik Naks!’, but hopefully a little more discreet than that.

Wingwoman sets off, telling Mr Shy Single Guy to come over in five minutes. She advances upon Pink Top Blonde and her friends, starts a conversation and, using flattery and friendliness, is accepted into the group. Wingwoman ensures that she drops into the conversation how great Mr Shy Single Guy is. (Soft lies may be used for efficacy.)

This paves the way for Mr Shy Single Guy to make his entrance. Once there, wingwoman introduces him, ‘Oh, here he is now – just back from his Save The Dolphins conference,’ then chats with another woman so Pink Top Blonde and Mr Shy Single Guy can get to know each other – alone.

So, Is It Better To Just Wing It?
Some women will be able to smell a wingwoman a mile off. I didn’t know what was going on when I was approached, but I did think something was up. After all, the last time a female approached me in such a friendly manner was when I was eight. (Her name was Tara; she decided that as we both had bike pants on, we should be friends). Nevertheless, my wingwoman experience proved this stealthy pick-up scheme works – I did give out my number after all.

Yep, it’s a pretty good bet for guys wanting action. (Plus, having a wingwoman sounds like they’re a superhero and they have a sidekick – attractive in itself, really). Of course, these men could just get some balls and approach women themselves, but why face possible rejection over the face of a pretty wingwoman?

Author: Zoe Foster