• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

What's On
Why Chet Hanks Wants to Collaborate With His Mom Rita Wilson on a ‘Strip Club’ Song (Exclusive)

Why Chet Hanks Wants to Collaborate With His Mom Rita Wilson on a ‘Strip Club’ Song (Exclusive)

February 1, 2026
Watch Aisha Jackson Take Her Final Bow as Daisy in THE GREAT GATSBY; Jeremy Jordan Remarks

Watch Aisha Jackson Take Her Final Bow as Daisy in THE GREAT GATSBY; Jeremy Jordan Remarks

February 1, 2026
ICE halts ‘all movement’ due to measles at Texas detention center that held 5-year-old, dad

ICE halts ‘all movement’ due to measles at Texas detention center that held 5-year-old, dad

February 1, 2026
IBM exec says Trump’s Fed pick will ‘overhaul’ central bank policies while bringing crisis expertise

IBM exec says Trump’s Fed pick will ‘overhaul’ central bank policies while bringing crisis expertise

February 1, 2026
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unleashes expletive-filled defense of Cooper Flagg usage during press conference

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unleashes expletive-filled defense of Cooper Flagg usage during press conference

February 1, 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Just In
  • Why Chet Hanks Wants to Collaborate With His Mom Rita Wilson on a ‘Strip Club’ Song (Exclusive)
  • Watch Aisha Jackson Take Her Final Bow as Daisy in THE GREAT GATSBY; Jeremy Jordan Remarks
  • ICE halts ‘all movement’ due to measles at Texas detention center that held 5-year-old, dad
  • IBM exec says Trump’s Fed pick will ‘overhaul’ central bank policies while bringing crisis expertise
  • Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unleashes expletive-filled defense of Cooper Flagg usage during press conference
  • Russia kills 12 Ukrainian miners in deadly bus attack hours after peace talks postponed
  • Kennedy Center to close for construction for 2 years, Trump says
  • Just Dropped! Amazon’s Newest Matching Sets Make Winter-to-Spring Dressing Effortless
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Newsletter
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
 Weather Login
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Home » Exclusive | Influencer who went viral for marrying her HS teacher nearly 40 years her senior claps back at haters
Lifestyle

Exclusive | Influencer who went viral for marrying her HS teacher nearly 40 years her senior claps back at haters

staffstaffJanuary 10, 20261 ViewsNo Comments
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Pinterest Email
Exclusive | Influencer who went viral for marrying her HS teacher nearly 40 years her senior claps back at haters

He robbed the cradle — and she broke the internet. 

A 22-year-old Italian influencer who went viral for a series of posts about the nearly four-decade age gap with her 60-year-old husband is clapping back at critics who called her “a gold digger.”

“Reducing a woman’s choices to money is one of the oldest and most unfair stereotypes. I have
my own goals, my own work, and my own independence. I married him for who he is — his
mind, his values, and the way he loves,” Minea Pagni told The Post.

“I knew not everyone would understand, but I wasn’t fully prepared for how intense some reactions could be. Still, I’ve learned that criticism often says more about society’s fears than about our love.”

Pagni met her older half, Massimo, five years ago, when he was her high school philosophy teacher.

“I had a crush on him . . . Nothing ever happened. . . . Years later, we met again — as two adults — and that’s when love actually began,” she explained on her Instagram handle @diaryofminea.

The lovebirds bumped into each other at a bookstore two years ago, started dating, and got hitched last month.

“Christmas feels a little sweeter this year . . . maybe because I’m spending it with the man I once only dreamed about,” Pagni captioned an Instagram video, which racked up 16 million views.

But online trolls questioned the May-December relationship — assuming she’s in it for the euros.

Minea Pagni told The Post that her love for her new husband, Massimo, is “entirely unrelated to money.” diaryofminea/instagram

“Rent cannot be that high sis,” said one hater.

Pagni told The Post it was all about love.

“I was captivated by his intellect, his sunny personality, his values, his boundless love for knowledge and learning, his curiosity about every aspect of life, and his lack of prejudice,” she gushed.

In another video, which got 4 million views, Pagni compared photos of them from 2010 — when he was 45 and she was 5 — which also caused a stir online, with comments such as “Wtf is wrong with you” and “This isn’t the flex u think it is.”

Other eagle-eyed viewers spotted Massimo, who is now a professor, sporting what they thought was a Rolex watch.

“He has 60k on his wrist. It’s all making sense now,” they quipped.

The couple first met when Massimo was Pagni’s high school philosophy teacher. diaryofminea/instagram
The lovebirds reconnected two years ago and got married in December. diaryofminea/instagram

“He doesn’t own, wear, or even desire a Rolex,” Pagni told The Post. “He has two beautiful watches, one of which I gave him as a gift, and he values them deeply.”

Pagni told The Post that Massimo is fully supportive of her chronicling their journey on social media.

“He understands that storytelling is part of who I am, and he trusts my intentions. We are very aligned on what we share and why we share it,” she said.

Pagni, who is now studying medicine, said in another post, “Even though he is no longer formally my teacher, he will always be the professor of my heart.”

“Too bad he didn’t teach you manners,” a troll snapped back.

Pagni told The Post that her parents did question the relationship at first.

Start your day with all you need to know

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Thanks for signing up!

“But once they saw how respected, supported, and happy I am, they trusted my choices. Today, they see the love and stability we share,” she said.

There were some online who came to her defense — saying she owed no one an explanation.

“Love doesn’t know age,” one said.

“Love does know age,” one rebutted. “You need to seek help.”

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram WhatsApp Email

Related News

Floridians gather frozen iguanas by armload as frigid temps leave them paralyzed, dropping from trees

Floridians gather frozen iguanas by armload as frigid temps leave them paralyzed, dropping from trees

Massive great white shark detected by researchers off Mississippi coast in rare Gulf migration

Massive great white shark detected by researchers off Mississippi coast in rare Gulf migration

Resurfaced 3,300-year-old Egyptian document hints at biblical giants being real

Resurfaced 3,300-year-old Egyptian document hints at biblical giants being real

Frustrated mom rants about how being a parent in the US is an ‘exhausting scam’

Frustrated mom rants about how being a parent in the US is an ‘exhausting scam’

Is it rude not to talk to your Uber driver? An expert settles the debate

Is it rude not to talk to your Uber driver? An expert settles the debate

Flyer refuses to shut window shade, sparking plane etiquette debate: ‘People only care about themselves’

Flyer refuses to shut window shade, sparking plane etiquette debate: ‘People only care about themselves’

Gordon Ramsay shares secret for not overcooking scrambled eggs

Gordon Ramsay shares secret for not overcooking scrambled eggs

Thrifty couple buys school bus for K — and transforms it into their dream beach home

Thrifty couple buys school bus for $5K — and transforms it into their dream beach home

To the moon! Inside the outer space hotels prepping to welcome guests as soon as 2032

To the moon! Inside the outer space hotels prepping to welcome guests as soon as 2032

Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest News

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

January 11, 2021

Subscribe to News

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

Editor's Picks
Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest WhatsApp TikTok Instagram
2026 © US Times Mirror. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?