LOVE often comes when you are least expecting it and it’s certainly true for one influencer.
Thought it started out as a ‘weekend fling’, content creator Shona Houston is now in a relationship with a man who is 18 years younger than her – and proudly calls herself a ‘cougar’.
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Their relationship began over a year ago, when 43 year old Shona had been splitting her time between nursing and travel.
Despite the fortysomething not looking for love, a weekend at the lake with friends would change the trajectory of her life forever.
As she caught up with the group in 2022, the part time nurse got closer with Owen, a 24-year-old handyman and farmer.
After on that fateful night, she could never have imagined that a year later they’d be celebrating their first anniversary together.
Shona admits that it’s unusual for her to date someone so much younger, with her telling Fabulous: “I’ve dated somebody maybe like a year younger but never that many years younger.”
Despite being blindsided by Owen, she confessed that she was hesitant about starting a relationship and though things would fizzle before too long.
“This was all very new and I didn’t really think it would turn into anything. Then we started hanging out…and then it just kept going,” she gushed, reflecting on their year and half long relationship.
Spending the majority of their time together in the great outdoors, the couple have visited various states and national parks – including the Rocky Mountains.
Free spirited Shona was even more shocked when Owen agreed to go long distance, whilst she worked out of state for several months.
She claims it’s this maturity that has been key to their relationship, with them openly not having kids early on.
Speaking about her long term boyfriend, Shona said: “Owen is a very old soul and so talking to him doesn’t feel like I’m talking somebody who is 24.”
Though some may question the nurse’s relationship, it’s clear to see she is besotted with her boyfriend with her Tiktok littered with videos about their unconventional relationship.
However, Shona enjoys poking fun at their large age gap with video of playfully boasting about being ‘the cougar who got him’.
The older woman has even attracted the attention of singer-songwriter Yung Gravy, who left a handshake emoji in the comments as he complimented Owen on his older girlfriend.
Ironically, Shona wasn’t sure how the popstar was before he commented on one of their viral videos.
“I didn’t realise who that was,” she confessed, adding: “I had to respond to Yung Gravy because I thought this was just hilarious.”
Others can’t believe that there is such a large age gap between them, with one commentor mistakenly thinking that Shona’s boyfriend was the fortysomething in the relationship.
The confused commentor even wrote: “He def looks 40 when he doesn’t shave.”
Sadly, not all the attention the couple receive has been so positive.
Like many age gap couples, Owen and Shona have had trolls target their social media.
One cruel commentor claimed that their love wouldn’t last and that Shona was just ‘one of the nights a week’ for Owen.
After seeing another of their viral videos, a mum dubbed the relationship ‘gross’, writing: “Eewwww nooooo! I’m in my 40’s and I have a son in his 20’s! I’d never!”
To which, the quick-witted Tiktoker replied: “Hey I wouldn’t either in that sitch but I’m kidless – it’s working out for me LOL.”
The happy couple seem to take it in their stride though, with Shona responding to the backlash in mutiple videos.
Rather than shying away controversy, the nurse cheekily upload a video of them celebrating Owen’s birthday with the caption: “When he finally turns 24 and you can use your birthday ballons from when you turned 42.”
She and her other half also celebrate their relationship, with videos of them spending romantic weekends together and falling into each others’ arms after being apart.
Whilst other might raise their eyebrows at the relationship, we are glad this travel obsessed couple have found each.
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