A step-mother to-be has become best friends with her fiance’s daughter, who is only a year younger than her.
Iyah Gill, 21, from Sierra Vista, Arizona, met her now fiance, Rafal Kubus, 43, a stockbroker three years ago, and fell head over heels in love despite a 22-year age gap.
The couple didn’t know each other’s ages for the first three weeks of dating, and Iyah was completely unaware Rafal’s daughter Selene was the same age as her.
But after meeting the pair quickly hit it off and often go shopping and get their nails done together, while Selene has even moved in with her dad and Iyah.
Iyah Gill, 21, (left) from Sierra Vista, Arizona, met her now fiance, Rafal Kubus, (centre) 43, a stockbroker three years ago, and fell head over heels in love despite a 22-year age gap. The couple didn’t know each other’s ages for the first three weeks of dating, and Iyah was completely unaware Rafal’s daughter Selene, 20 (right)was the same age as her
The pair met in 2019 in a bar, and three weeks later Iyah’s mother revealed she was only 19.
But the pair stayed together and refused to let their age difference get in the way.
Iyah then discovered Rafal’s daughter, Selene, then 18, was just one year younger than her.
Selene said: ‘It didn’t bother me when I found out. It was nerve-wracking to meet her but we get on well.’
Iyah, an influencer, said: ‘Knowing Rafal had a daughter close in age wasn’t ever that strange to me – and meeting her as been amazing.
‘We get on great and she is so sweet.
Three years ago, when Iyah’s mother revealed she was only 19, the pair stayed together and refused to let their age difference get in the way.
‘It’s probably because we are so close in age that we get on so well – we have lots in common like shopping and we both like the outdoors.
‘We do lots of girly things together- like get our hair nails done’
Rafal and Iyah met in a sports bar in Chicago in April 2019 where they got chatting and have been inseparable since.
Selene said: ‘It’s never bothered my knowing my dad was dating someone so close to me in age.
Rafal and Iyah met in a sports bar in Chicago, Illinois, US, in April 2019 where they got chatting and have been inseparable since.
‘People always think it should, but I’m just happy for my dad and Iyah is becoming a great friend.’
Rafal added: ‘It’s great that they both get along.
‘I’m happy that they can relate when it comes to shopping and asking each other opinions on clothes.
‘There’s only so many times I can say “you look adorable”.’
‘I don’t think we’ve spent a day apart since,’ Iyah said.
At first the pair didn’t know each other’s ages.
‘I knew she was younger than me, but as she was at a bar I thought she was at least 21,’ Rafal said.
Rafal said that it ‘took him a minute’ to get his head around but it didn’t stop him from pursuing love
It was only when Rafal came around for Easter lunch at Iyah’s family home that the couple found out each other’s ages – when Iyah’s mother, a 47-year-old nurse called Shaunta Piamonte, let it slip that her daughter was just 19.
‘It took me a minute to process,’ Rafal said.
‘But it didn’t matter I knew she was special.’
Iyah said: ‘I’ve always liked older guys, maybe not quite 41 though.
‘But we already had a bond so it would be silly to then call it off just because of our age.’
Iyah’s step-dad, 47, Chris Piamonte, who is in the car business, took a while to wrap his head around it and didn’t speak to Rafal for a few weeks.
The loved up pair got engaged in December 2019 when Rafal popped the question in Chicago and they hope to get married later this year
‘He suddenly came round once he realised how great we are together,’ Iyah said.
‘Now my family love him.’
The loved up pair got engaged in December 2019 when Rafal popped the question in Chicago and they hope to get married later this year.
Although both families are supportive, they have received comments online but they don’t let it affect them.
‘People have said ‘I might as well date my own daughter’ and things like that but we’re happy so we ignore it,’ Rafal said.
Iyah has only recently met Rafal’s daughter, Selena, as they had been travelling for the last few years.
‘I was nervous to meet her,’ Iyah said.
‘But she is a really sweet girl and it doesn’t feel weird at all.
‘I think she thinks I’m more like a 30-year-old in how I act.’