My favorite topic in the whole wide world is probably love. And the pursuit of love. Second to that would be marriage and the pursuit of marriage. To both topics add the word black and we are in the groove. This is why I love the Essence Will You Marry Me Contest.

For the past few years Essence has invited men that want to propose to their girlfriends to write in and tell Essence why. Essence then selects four of the best entries, flys the men to NYC for a photo shoot and then they film each couples proposal. Essence readers from around the world then vote on their fave couple online. Each year, I watch all the videos and choose my favorite couple and then I proceed to vote for said couple daily as I sit and dream that a man would say such lovely things about me one day.

The winning couple receives a wedding of their dreams amongst other things.

Anyway.

This year I actually know a couple in the contest!!! Well, kinda. Like the bride is the best friend of one of my closet friend's ex-boyfriend. And we were all at a private party together once. But most important to you all is that the groom, Cleveland Carr, is from Clarksville.



Cleveland is an infantry soldier in the U.S. Army getting ready for his fourth deployment. He is the one with the guns. What an awesome sacrifice, huh? Maya is a teacher. Their relationship is long-distance. She has children from a prior relationship and so does he. Both are defying odds that I can't even began to imagine. They are certainly a couple that is deserving of the wedding of their dreams.

I want each of you to take 3 minutes out of your schedule and go vote for Mayaland as their friends affectionately call the couple. Then you can go and join their fan club on Facebook.

Follow me on twitter @kokoesquire.