Woman, 32, Says She's Often Mistaken For 80-Year-Old Husband's Daughter

We’ve seen our fair share of couples with large age gaps tie the knot, and some have proven that, for them, age really is just a number when it comes to love.

In a recent interview with Malaysian media New Straits Times, 32-year-old Kelantan-born Che Zainun Che Ahmad opened up about her relationship and marriage with her 80-year-old husband, Hazlan Hajar. 

Che Zainun has admitted early reactions to the couple’s 48-year age gap were not easy to deal with.

Che Zainun first met Hazlan on Facebook about 10 years ago, and the two gradually got to know each other over time. She said she has always preferred older men, adding that while she had dated men her own age, she never found them to be compatible.

She was moved by Hazlan’s patience and maturity, and though her family was initially shocked when they found out about the relationship, they eventually gave the pair their blessing.

“We got married when he was 70 and I was only 22,” she said. 

However, their large age gap also came with its fair share of misunderstandings from others.

Che Zainun is often mistaken for being Hazlan’s daughter

She revealed she was initially uncomfortable with the assumptions but has since grown used to them.

She added that she does not blame anyone for the misunderstandings, as she had already prepared herself for various perceptions before marrying someone much older. 

"To me, age is just a number. Thank God, we have been blessed with two children, who are nine years old and one month old,” she said. 

Despite remaining confident in her decision and being fully aware it was a choice she made for herself, Che Zainun does not encourage others to marry men with such a large age difference, particularly older divorcees or widowers.

"With such a wide age gap, our interests and lifestyles are naturally different. I choose to compromise more for the sake of our marriage because older men tend to have strong egos," she explained.

However, she also shared that her husband maintains a healthy diet and remains in good health despite his age. While he is not a particularly romantic person, she added that his straightforward nature has helped keep their marriage free of unnecessary conflict.

Her advice? "A relationship like this requires emotional maturity and resilience. Without that, the marriage may not last. Find someone who is mature, compatible and not too far apart in age.”

Photo: NST, Jairus Abiasen/ Pexels