Fans of 90 Day Fiance are no stranger to watching couples with massive age gaps play out on-screen. For instance, 62-year-old Jenny Slatten, who is bent on marrying her 32-year-old Indian boyfriend Sumit Singh, despite being older than his mother.
While Sumit’s parents refuse to accept Jenny as their daughter-in-law citing the massive age gap, the upcoming season 8 of 90 Day Fiance, which premieres on TLC on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. EST, one international couple with an age gap of 25 years is expected to have a similarly problematic relationship.
90 Day Fiance season 8 star Stephanie, 52, is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her fiance, Ryan is just 27. She met Ryan in his home country of Belize. TLC released a trailer for the upcoming season, showing Stephanie worried that she was spending a lot of money on her younger partner’s lifestyle.
Stephanie runs two spa businesses, but her busy professional life didn’t leave much time for love or marriage, according to Nicki Swift. The TLC star was not even in a long-term relationship before now. She met Ryan on the beach during her vacation to Belize.
The pair felt sparks and entered into a heavy romance. Ryan and Stephanie decided to tie the knot shortly after their first meeting. Despite their intense chemistry, the difference in their age and income could lead to problems in their relationship.
Ryan did not stop flirting with women, which raised concerns among Stephanie’s friends and family back home. While he insisted that he was only having fun, Stephanie seemed unsure about whether or not she could trust him fully. Moreover, considering their age gap. she also wasn’t sure if he was ready to settle down yet.
Shortly after beginning their relation, Stephanie started financially supporting Ryan, bringing expensive gifts not just for him, but also for his family members, and even paid some of his relatives’ rent. On 90 Day Fiance season 8, Stephanie looks worried that Ryan might be using her for a green card and money.
In a FaceTime chat, Ryan asked his girlfriend to get more luxury gifts with her when she visits him in Belize. “How many watches, sweetie, do you want me to bring you?” Stephanie asked Ryan
“Maybe two more of the ones that you got me already, and then you can bring the rest for the guys,” Ryan told her as if she had done this several times before. “I feel like I’ve kind of turned into a sugar mama,” Stephanie told TLC producers begrudgingly. 90 Day Fiance fans will have to tune in and see if their relationship is merely a farce or the real deal.