I met my husband when I was 19 and he was 41 – people thought it was a bad idea, but six years on we’ve got a kid

LOVE often blooms in unexpected ways, sometimes defying what society considers the norm. 

For one couple, Iyah and Rafah, their story has been a vibrant testament to finding happiness on their own terms, despite early doubts from others.

Iyah recently shared an update with her 840.4K TikTok followers, celebrating six years of marriage and the joy of building a family, a journey many initially questioned. 

Sharing a happy video of them dancing together, they wrote: “Us six years later because my husband didn’t give up pursuing me even when everyone said ‘you’re 41. 

“Dating a 19-year-old is a bad idea.” 

Their relationship first captured attention due to their significant age difference. 

When they met, Iyah was just 19 years old, while Rafah was 41.

On their TikTok page, @rafal_and_iyah, Iyah had previously described meeting Rafah as “a dream come true.”

She’s also openly spoken about the deeper connection that drew them together, moving past the age gap. 

As she explained, at 19, she already knew she wanted to get married and become a young mum. 

Rafah, then 41, had “wanted a family for so long,” making their aspirations perfectly aligned.

Iyah revealed that both of them initially worried about the age difference and how their families might react. 

However, they ultimately decided that external opinions didn’t matter, choosing instead to follow their hearts and start a family together. 

Now, six years into their marriage with children, they’re clearly celebrating having trusted their own path despite the initial “bad idea” warnings.

Their latest video gained 604k views and 319 comments after three days of being shared and many people’s opinions have been divided. 

One person wrote: “She was 41 and he was 19. and he was pursuing her, that’s how I understood it. 

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“Now they’re supposedly 47 and 25, if you can believe the story.”

While a second added: “You two look beautiful together. And I’m glad he never stopped fighting for you too!”

And a third commented: “I’m 60 and my husband is 82. We’ve been together since 1989. Don’t judge. 

“My parents reached 55 yrs before my dad’s passing, he reached 67 before his mother experienced a stroke that forced her into a care home. 

“Nothing can touch us. We’re strong.” 

A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.