A 23-YEAR-OLD, who once walked ahead of her fiancé in public due to fear of judgement, is showing the world their love is genuine – despite him being twice her age. May Rahim, 23, and Richard O’Hare, 49, from New York, have been in a relationship for two years, but they only went public earlier this year. May told Barcroft TV: “I just want the world to know who I love and not judge me, but people are going to judge me regardless.” The couple met by chance when May was lost, and Rich offered her a lift. Whilst Rich was driving, May was quick to notice he didn’t wear a wedding ring. “I thought, he’s a lot older than me but he’s handsome – I’m going to hit him up.” What followed was a teenage-like romance of long phone calls and endless text messages. Initially, May felt too anxious to reveal her new relationship to the world so they kept it a secret. However, she realised how difficult it was for Richard. At the beginning of summer, May found the courage to post a photo online of Rich and herself with a story on their relationship and their differences. Whilst some people have been very supportive, they have also faced judgement from friends, family and strangers. “I had a lot of immature friends that would say stuff [about Rich] being my sugar daddy.” Rich’s family met May for the first time last year. May was a big hit, despite some being a little shocked by her age. Linda, Rich’s older sister, was surprised when she heard how young her brother’s new girlfriend was. “I was a little concerned because [of the] age difference – that she would find somebody closer to her in age. That did worry me.” For now, May and Rich are happy sharing their relationship with the world. “I think overall, coming out on social media has been a really good experience for us,” May said. Rich added: “We are just letting the world know who we are and that we’re not going to hide.”
