A WOMAN has hit back at trolls who call her a ‘cougar’ and a ‘groomer’ for dating a man almost half her age.
Tanya, 44, and her husband Josh first met when he was just 19 – and it was all thanks to her own kids.
Tanya and Joshua met seven years ago when he was just 19 and she was 38
Despite the hate, the pair are now planning to have a baby together
Speaking to Truly , the mum said: “We met through my two eldest sons.”
When Joshua, now 26, first came to their house, he admitted he thought Tanya was ‘hot’ from the get-go.
But it wasn’t the same for Tanya, who found him ‘loud and annoying’ at first.
A year after breaking up with their previous partners, the pair began but it was a rocky start.
Joshua admitted he had ‘toxic’ tendencies, like checking Tanya’s phone until the couple eventually split up.
But now the pair say they are back together and stronger than ever and are now even trying for a baby.
Tanya, who has four children currently, revealed she had been given the go-ahead for IVF and the pair were planning the procedure soon.
“She’s twice my age and I want to get her pregnant,” Joshua added.
But the couple admitted that their love hasn’t come without criticism.
Tanya said: “People always judge our relationship.
“‘This is lowkey giving cougar desperation vibes,’ ‘Is that your mum?’ ‘She had to pay him to stay,’ they call me a groomer.”
Speaking to the haters, she added: “
“When we got together, he was 21 and I was 38, at 21 years old you’re able to drink , you’re able to gamble, you’re able to go to war for your country why are you not able to love who you want?” she asked.”
The clip went viral on with over 7,900 likes and people were quick to share their thoughts in the comments.
One person wrote: “They have an 18 year age gap which at his current age is fine but I do feel her starting to mess around with him when he was 19/20 is a bit questionable.”
Another commented: “Age isn’t nothing but a number but love will always be love.”
“Her kid is older than him,” penned a third.
A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time
- Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble – 25 years
The Kardashian matriarch, 69, met her younger man, 44, at a mutual friend’s 40th birthday party in Ibiza. They’ve been together since August 2014. - Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 23 years
The director, 57, and actor, 34, reportedly met at a film audition in 2009, and were married by 2012. The pair share two daughters and Sam has two children from a previous marriage. - Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – 20 years
The model, 37, started dating actor Jason, 57, in 2010. They were wed in 2016 and have since welcomed a son and a daughter together. - Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas – 25 years
Catherine, 55, was introduced to Michael, 80, a film festival in 1996 and engaged three years later. Shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed a son and married in 2000.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “I think it’s great!!! Best of luck to the both of you.”
“Love between two people is all you need,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “Ladies, you don’t have to birth a baby for every man you meet, please stop it.”
