2 days ago
British grandmother, 65, dating 44-year-old Gambian waiter says men her age are 'like washed-up coleslaw' - as she lavishes him with thousands of pounds worth of gifts
A 65-year-old British woman who says she 'doesn't fancy men her own age' has been labelled a 'sex tourist' after finding love with a younger man she met on holiday, much to the disapproval of her concerned family.
Zena, 65, from Oxted, Surrey, was on holiday in The Gambia two years ago when she came across Ebrima, a waiter at her resort who is 21 years her junior.
With much matchmaking taking place online in the 21st century, Zena was delighted when Ebrima pined after her with flowers, asking her out on a date.
The mother-of-four starred on the programme 90 Day Fiancé UK, where her love story with her now-boyfriend, Ebrima, 44, was told.
'I thought he's rather nice, he's tall, he's handsome, we've had a few dates and we've had a relationship ever since,' she said.
Zena admitted that the age-gap relationship is Ideal as 'I don't really fancy men my own age'. She added: 'Men in their 60s, I'm not attracted to. They're all bald and have big fat guts. They're like washed-up coleslaw. I don't fancy young men, I like an in-between.'
But although Zena appears to be happy that she has finally found someone after three failed long-term relationships, her family are not convinced that Ebrima has her best intentions at heart, especially after they uncovered his secret social media profile.
Since dating, Zena has bought him an iPhone, a mattress and sent him more than £1,000 for occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, and to help his struggling family. Ebrima has also asked her for £3,000 so he can set up a taxi business.
She said: 'He's extremely fit and I am so attracted to him. When I put a few posts up on my social media, a lot of people said "You're just a visa vagina" or "You're just a sex tourist." No, I'm not a sex tourist because if I wanted [to have] sex in England I would, even at my age.'
Zena added: 'I am a generous person and if I think someone needs money, I will give it to them because you can only keep so much for yourself.'
However, her elderly mother, 95, disapproves of Ebrima, adding that she hopes the pair do not end up marrying, while Zena's granddaughter Tillie believes the fairy tale romance may all be too good to be true.
'He could have four ladies exactly like you all sending him money,' she speculated.
Zena's daughter, Zoe, said: 'I don't think she's thinking straight but I hope for her sake, he's going to prove us all wrong. If he does ask for money that is definitely a red flag.'
Ebrima - who also appeared on the show - told Zena that he 'really, really wants to get to England' after speaking about how poorly workers are paid in his country.
'The income is very low so it is dependent on tips,' he said. 'Everyone is struggling to have English people because English people give tips.
'Zena is very good for my family. She usually helps me with money and clothes, now I don't buy clothes.'
Ebrima - who is a practising Muslim - has always told Zena that he does not have social media, but after her friend Lisa told her to do some digging, she was shocked to find out that she had been lied to.
After Tillie found his profile on Facebook, Zena said: 'What a cheek. I'm furious really. He said he never had one.'
The waiter also stated he was single on his social media account, with Tillie and Zena uncovering the heaps of scantily-clad women on his Facebook Friends list.
'I feel sick, he's totally deceived me,' she said, adding that her intention is to confront him about the lie during her trip to The Gambia, which will be the first time she has come face-to-face with her lover in eight months.
'[I'll say] 'You're supposed to be a Muslim and they're not supposed to do things like that. He's always telling me 'Don't wear this, don't wear that, don't drink this, don't drink that'. Well I'm sure his w****s on his social media drink.'
Upon arriving at the tropical country and being greeted at the airport by her younger lover, Zena was less than impressed with the hotel they were staying in, calling it 'a f***ing building site'.
She said: 'I sometimes feel a bit gutted that he hasn't got anything for me. At least there's one thing he can give me that's priceless. I just want to have one good night together before I have it out with him.'
But the morning after, Ebrima irritated Zena when he made her tea 'too milky' and she attempted to get the answers she desperately needed.
When she asked whether he had social media, Ebrima said: 'It's been deleted for a long time. It's not there now.'
But then Zena said he was 'lying' and showed him his own Facebook profile, adding: 'You've put single. Are you single?'
He responded: 'It was a joke, I like joking.'
The 65-year-old then asked why he had not accepted her friend request and said: 'I don't really think it's that funny. I'm not going to waste all my time getting over here, buying you things and buying things for your family and then, lo and behold, you're playing me.
'I don't think it's a joke because I'm taking our relationship seriously. You're going single on here, you could get other women approaching you to join you as a friend, what would you do then?'
Ebrima said he was an 'entertainer' and that he would often delete friend requests from women rather than accepting them.
The argument turned heated, with Zena saying: 'This isn't a f***ing joke and I'm not happy about that.'
She added: 'Who does he think he is? He has trouble making conversation so I don't understand how he thinks he's an entertainer.
'He's lying straight to my face because I know he's got women on there because I've seen them.'
But Ebrima maintains he was joking by setting one up and said that he only used it for around a month.
In the preview for the fourth episode, Ebrima takes Zena to the house he has been building, but she is far from impressed when she sees that her bedroom barely has four walls and no roof.
'Finances were the main issue,' he said, while saying that he still needs around £2,000 to help with the cost, but Zena is reluctant to take out a loan to help out her boyfriend.
