A 23-year-old model who is dating a man 40 years her senior has hit back at critics who claim she is only with him for his money.
Willow Sias, 23, from North Carolina, met professional blackjack player and home builder David Simonini, 63, on Tinder in February 2022, and said they fell ‘in love instantly’.
‘We fell in love within an hour,’ the model said of the couple’s first date. ‘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.’
The couple share their lavish lifestyle online – including the day David bought his girlfriend a $175,000 Mercedes as a ‘mid-week gift’ – but have faced criticism from trolls who claim Willow is a ‘sugar baby’.
Willow brushes off the comments and says David gives her the ‘stability and security’ she needs.
Willow Sias, 23, from North Carolina, has gone viral on TikTok after sharing her 40-year age gap relationship with David Simonini (both pictured), a 63-year-old professional blackjack player and home builder
Willow met David on Tinder in February 2022 after previously feeling overwhelmed when using the dating app
Willow said she and David both thought the other was using a fake profile before risking a first date together
She added that despite their age difference, Willow and David share a lot of common interests, including frequently going out for five-star dinners or partying.
This isn’t Willow’s first time dating an older man as previously she has been involved with a 42-year-old and 37-year-old.
She said: ‘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.
Willow claims she and David had an instant connection and their energies mesh really well together
David bought bought Willow a car (pictured) as a ‘mid-week gift’ and gesture of his love to bring a smile to her face
David, who is an all-round entrepreneur, never says no to anything that Willow’s heart desires as he is besotted with her
David once took Willow on a tuna fishing trip after she mentioned craving the fish
Willow admits she’s glad things didn’t work out with her previous partners because she wouldn’t have met David
Willow said her previous relationship started similar to her current but the guy didn’t follow through with his promises
‘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.’
Willow said David has kept his word on everything, which she finds ‘really sexy’
Willow said David makes sure that she’s taken care of and comfortable, which is ‘really big’ for her
Willow said she needs the stability and security that David offers in her life at this time
In the future, the couple hope to start their own family together and have already discussed having kids.
Willow says her family and friends have embraced her new beau, but some people believe David is her ‘sugar daddy’.
She said: ‘[My parents] absolutely love how happy he’s made me and how good he is to me.
Willow said she and David hope to start a family in the future and have already discussed having children
Willow revealed her family and friends have embraced David, but some people believe he is her ‘sugar daddy’
Willow said her parents ‘love’ how happy David has made her and he spoils her as much as her father does
‘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.’
The couple document their romance on TikTok, where they have received 17.3 million views and over 2.2 million likes on one clip.
In the video, the couple are shown intimately dancing together as David’s hands run across Willow’s body.
Willow said her father is ‘very grateful’ that she has someone that treats her like he did
Willow and David have racked up over 17 million views on their TikTok, with an intimate dancing video among the most viewed
Willow and David have had a mixed reaction to their TikTok posts, with cruel trolls claiming they look more like ‘father and daughter’ than a couple
However, cruel trolls say the pair look more like ‘father and daughter’ than a couple.
‘Father daughter dances are the sweetest thing,’ one viewer wrote.
Another person added: ‘Love seeing cute father daughter relationships.’
‘Awwww what a loving dad,’ a third wrote.
Others appeared enamored with David.
A number of commenters have joked about David being a ‘loving dad’, while others have labelled him ‘hot’
‘No bc he’s hot,’ wrote one person.
‘Wait he’s so sweet, y’all look cute,’ another commented.
One viewer said: ‘This is the cutest thing in the world.’
Despite the mixed reactions, the couple say that they aren’t worried about their age gap and choose to ignore any negative comments.
Willow added: ‘I’m teaching him to [ignore the comments] too.
Willow said they aren’t worried about their age gap and choose to ignore the negative comments
Willow claims she has been an influencer on social media since around age 12, so already knows how to respond to mixed reactions
Willow said women support her relationship, but she and David get a lot of hate from men
‘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 [that trolls think he’s my sugar daddy].
‘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.’
Willow claims that she doesn’t care if social media trolls think David is her sugar daddy
Willow said she doesn’t care about the opinion of people online because she doesn’t know them
Willow said David is sometimes bothered by the comments on their TikTok, but they do appreciate the nice messages
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