M'sian woman, 32, married man, 80, she met on Facebook, have 2 children together

A 32-year-old Malaysian woman says she is regularly mistaken for her 80-year-old husband's daughter, thanks to a 48-year age gap that has drawn public attention since the couple married a decade ago.

Che Zainun Che Ahmad and her husband Hazlan Hajar tied the knot when she was 22 and he was 70, after getting to know each other on Facebook over several years, according to the New Straits Times (NST).

How they met

Che Zainun told NST the relationship started as a friendship before developing into something more.

She said:

"I married my husband 10 years ago after we got to know each other on Facebook over several years. At first, we were just friends, but his patience and maturity won my heart. I have also always preferred older men as partners."

Che Zainun said dating men her own age had never worked out for her. When she told her family about Hazlan, they were shocked at first, but came around in time.

Life with a 48-year age gap

The couple now has two children, nine, and one month old.

She told NST:

"To me, age is just a number. Thank God, we have been blessed with two children."

Che Zainun said her husband remains in good health and maintains a healthy diet. While he is not particularly romantic, she said his straightforward nature has kept their marriage peaceful.

She added that navigating the age gap requires compromise on her part.

She said: "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."

Her advice to others

Despite her own positive experience, Che Zainun said she would not encourage others to follow the same path, particularly when it comes to marrying older divorcees or widowers.

She said: "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."