Introducing a new partner to your parents can be a nerve-wracking experience, but add in an age gap and you might have to face a few more uncomfortable questions. Just this weekend, Carla Jones'* parents flew from Australia to the UK for a visit, and had the chance of meeting their daughter's new boyfriend.
Carla, a London-based designer, is 41 but prefers to date men more than 10 years younger, with her current boyfriend, BB*, aged 28 - and argues she shouldn't be made to feel ashamed for her choices. The self-confessed cougar has dated this way for as long as she can remember but she realised just how important it was for her relationships after her marriage broke down.
Feeling lost, she turned to dating app Tinder and slowly began lowering her age preference. To her amazement, men in their twenties were lining up to take her out. But while some young men can use her as their 'cougar fantasy', Carla has managed to turn her sex-positive lifestyle into a money-making side hustle that she hopes will inspire other older women.
