A woman whose partner is 40 years older than she is has said she fell in love with him on their first date and denied that she is only with him for his money. Model and actress Willow Sias, 23, got together with David Simonini, 63, after matching with him on Tinder and despite their age gap, say they had an "instant connection" when they met.
However, the pair have been the subject of cruel comments from trolls, who have said that Willow is only with David - who is a professional blackjack player - as she is looking for a 'sugar daddy' to spend money on her. While David has treated her to expensive presents, including a brand new car, they both insist their relationship is built on love and nothing else.
The couple have a joint TikTok account, referring to themselves as 'Cowboy and Angel' and 'The King and Queen of Blackjack'. Sharing short clips of them together, their nearly 130,000 followers have been given an insight into their relationship as well as their lavish lifestyle, with some videos racking up over two million likes.
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Willow first started looking for love on dating app Tinder last December, but had deleted her profile after being inundated with matches having swiped right for multiple men. However, determined to find Mr Right, she redownloaded the app and after a more selective swiping session, had her attention grabbed by David.
At first, the pair both thought the others' was a fake profile, but decided to take the plunge and went on a first date together. Despite only sharing a brief moment in each others' company, however, they were smitten immediately.
"It was a pretty instant connection and we fell in love within an hour,” Willow told The Mirror. “He was my first and only Tinder date, but we had a quick dinner because I had an interview later that night. We’re like mirrors – our energies mesh really well together and we even eat the same things, which is crazy.
“Often, we’ll be doing nothing but still laughing and having a good time. I think we really bonded over the experiences and vibes we share, which is mostly what we have in common.”
Despite their age difference, the pair share a lot of common interests, including frequently going out for five-star dinners, dancing together and partying. David also never says no to anything Willow's heart desires, buying her a car as a "mid-week" gift and taking her on expensive trips.
The 23-year-old, who has previously dated older men, said her partner gives her "stability and security" and finds his personality "sexy". She added: "I’ve actually dated an older man for a few months before and our age difference was around 20 years. I was with a 42-year-old once, which lasted for around two years. [The first one] was a dream, but I liked him too much and got scared, so I ghosted him. I’m glad I did, because this led me to David.
“My last relationship started out similarly to this one but the guy never followed through on what he would say he would do. David has kept his word on everything, which is really sexy to me. He makes sure I’m taken care of, comfortable and don’t need anything – which is really big for me. I need that kind of stability and security in my life at this point.”
The couple are already looking to the future and hope to start their own family together at some point. Willow said her family and friends have also supported her relationship with David, but is frustrated that some people still believe he is her sugar daddy.
"My parents absolutely love how happy he’s made me and how good he is to me," she said. "He recently bought me a Mercedes AMG as a ‘Happy Thursday’ present, so he really spoils me to death – which my father does too. He’s very grateful I have someone that treats me like he did. [My friends] love us too – but a few still think that he’s my sugar daddy.”
Viewers on TikTok have also questioned the relationship, with comments on one video - which has been viewed more than 17 million times - claiming that "money does buy love". One wrote: "Would be curious to see if that love looked the same if he was renting a house and making just enough to survive," while another added: "Tell me you have money without telling me you have money". A third said: "I'm sure she truly cares for him but the money made the start of it easier".
However, despite the mixed reactions, the couple say that they aren't worried about their age gap and instead choose to ignore any negative comments. Willow said that while she could take the criticism, the comments from trolls do get to David sometimes.
She added: “I’m teaching him to [ignore the comments] too. I’ve been an influencer on social media since I was about 12, so I’ve been around the block and know a thing or two already. We get a lot of support from the girls, but lots of hate from the men – we’re not sure why, but there’s a definite divide.
"I don’t care, I don’t know any of these people and if I did they’re not people whose opinions I care about on this matter. It does bother David sometimes though, so we appreciate the nice comments we do get."
