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Everyone seems to know at least one.
Chances are that if you know such a woman, she's more often than not without a partner and will probably admit there are few prospects on the horizon.
Why would women who epitomize the contemporary ideal of smart, savvy and successful femineity be so devoid of male attention?
After all, single men in the same category and with the same assets are pursued vigorously and determinedly by plenty of single women.
Ask the successful women for reasons as to why they're dateless, they almost always reply it's because most men are "intimidated" by them.
They usually add that their success makes men "insecure" or "threatened" and it takes a very confident or equally successful man to ask them out.
Marilyn Denis, the attractive 40-something host of Toronto's popular CityLine TV show has been single for two years. She agrees that independent, successful women like herself tend to intimidate most men.
"But I also believe they think we're far too busy to ask out," says the hardworking personality who's also mom to a 16-year-old boy.
But, like many successful single women today, Denis enjoys her jobs, life and group of "great girlfriends" and feels sure that special date will show up one day.
Others, such as 50-year-old Claudia Shadursky, who owns her company, Print Marketing Solutions, say what can happen is when women become successful, their focus changes.
"They're often loaded with responsibilities, both working and family," she says "and men are no longer such a priority. And this doesn't work for men because they need to be needed."
It's a point John T. Molloy would agree with strongly. He's an image consultant and author of the best-selling Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others (Warner Books). He has some pointers for successful women who can't get dates.
"It's important to point out that men aren't intimidated by these women — they're challenged. And men when they're challenged respond aggressively," he says.
"Women may not want to hear this but if they want men to be interested in them for a long-term relationship, they have to initially soften their image, become more feminine and downplay their power and position."
He disagrees with women who say men in their mid-40s always marry younger women.
"That's a myth," he says firmly. "Most men much prefer someone close to their age — someone they can really relate to."
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