Marriage with 26-year age difference - Ukrainian model Kristina Liliana 21 years

[SilverBUllet]

Is this normal in Russia and Ukraine? Such a big age difference? A new marriage between 21 year old Ukrainian model Kristina Liliana and 47 year old German soccer legend Lothar Matthäus at 47!!!  At 21 years old, she is a staggering 26 years younger than her man. She looks stellar but her new husband like her father.    What is the opinion about this topic among women in Russia and Ukraine? It can't be normal  He is rich but still old compared to her  Would she have married him without the money 

Highly-decorated German legend Lothar Matthäus has enjoyed almost as many spouses as he has Bundesliga Titles. The oft-complaining Maccabi Netanya manager separated from his third wife earlier this year, and 25 days later he shacked up with a Ukranian model Kristina Liliana. At 21 years old, she is a staggering 26 years younger than her man.

http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/tag/lothar-matthaus

[SilverBUllet]

Is this normal in Russia and Ukraine? Such a big age difference? A new marriage between 21 year old Ukrainian model Kristina Liliana and 47 year old German soccer legend Lothar Matthäus at 47!!!  At 21 years old, she is a staggering 26 years younger than her man.

???

[pitbull]

SB, the key words in this story are "Highly-decorated German legend". The whole thing has nothing to do with the couple's nationalities. Happens everywhere. (The same as if I started asking Americans if huge age difference is normal in the US based on Anna Nicole Smith's story)

[SilverBUllet]

I am just wondering. Any other Ukrainian models lining up to marry not so rich and famous 47-year olds? Any other Kristina Liliana's look-a-like? If 26-year age differce and being new wife number 4 doesn't bother her, what matters for ladies like that? Money? Kristina Liliana was not doing so bad on her own either as a model.......why not a young oligarch instead, Russian or Ukrainian? This lady had everything going for her and ended up with her father look-alike. Let's see when he is 70, she is still 44! 

[SilverBUllet]

SB, the key words in this story are "Highly-decorated German legend". The whole thing has nothing to do with the couple's nationalities. Happens everywhere. (The same as if I started asking Americans if huge age difference is normal in the US based on Anna Nicole Smith's story)

I think it happens more often in Ukraine and Russia than in the USA. Even the only daughter of Ukrainian PM Yuilia Tymoschenko married a much older Brit. I think Evgenia Tymoschenko was 26 while her husband was 38 but he was plain broke with no fame except being a dance band/rock musician no one had heard of, involved in domestic abuse of his former wife in England too. The only thing he had going for him was long hair and a big tattoo on his belly that facinated Evgenia Tymoschenko, and when this daughter sees something she wants she gets it. Another story of big age difference and a Ukrainian beauty that didn't have to compromise at all, she was the closest to Ukrainian royalty as you could get these days and her mother a billionaire.

[SilverBUllet]

I think it happens more often in Ukraine and Russia than in the USA. Even the only daughter of Ukrainian PM Yuilia Tymoschenko married a much older Brit. I think Evgenia Tymoschenko was 26 (a beauty like her mother) while her husband was 38 but he was plain broke with no fame except being a dance band/rock musician no one had heard of, involved in domestic abuse of his former wife in England too. The only thing he had going for him was long hair and a big tattoo on his belly that facinated Evgenia Tymoschenko, and when this daughter sees something she wants she gets it. Another story of big age difference and a Ukrainian beauty that didn't have to compromise at all, she was the closest to Ukrainian royalty as you could get these days and her mother a billionaire.

[Mishenka]

It is not the norm but it does happen to guys who are not so rich and famous. I know someone who dated a beautiful girl from Lviv Ukraine for a few months with this same age difference between them. She came to USA at the age of eleven and was raised in a Russian community here. She didn't have a problem with the age difference but he did. Eventually her dishonesty and infidelities lead to destroying the relationship and it ended rather quickly. She was married at 18 to an older RM but said she was divorced. Turned out later she never separated or filed for divorce. She was just sleeping around with the neighbor boys. She also had a 2 year old son she left with in laws while she was out playing. These women can be very crafty and convincing. The truth always comes out in the end.
M.

[SilverBUllet]

The lady from Lviv you mentioed was just far too young. What can you expect at that age? I am thinking of those ladies in the 20+ -30 year category marrying 50-year olds. That is a very big age difference even in Russian terms I would think? 

[viking]

He is a celebrity, rich and famous. She is young and beautiful. He was married 3 times. Expect 4-5-6.

[Shadow]

Nobody heard the name Kirstiana Liliana until she married Mr Matthaus.
Similar for Ms Timoshenko.

By a marriage that 'rocks the world' the woman will get more exposure for her name and plans. After two or three years a big divorce at a time when the name is 'disappearing' from the headlines, and income is once again guaranteed.

[I/O]

This lady had everything going for her and ended up with her father look-alike. Let's see when he is 70, she is still 44! 

She hasn't "ended up" with anything or anyone yet. Precisely what did she have going for her? Sorry, but in my household we do keep some tabs on who is up and coming in the modelling scene. We hadn't come across her name. Me thinks her career has just had it's biggest possible leg up. Let's see where she has "ended up" a few years from now.

To the opening question, yes it happens but it isn't necessarily usual.

I/O

[ECOCKS]

IMO it is fair to say the socially acccepted range here in the FSU is a bit wider than back in the States (and probably Canada, UK and OZ).  Ranges of up to 12-15 years seem pretty well accepted and there are occasional anecdotes from the old days concerning wider differences in marriages.  So, it seems that greater separations are not so odd.

That said, things seem to be changing, particularly with the current generation where gaps of less than three years seem much more normal.  Hard to say exactly since statistics here are suspect assuming they can even be obtained.

The 20+ year gaps still seem to draw ridicule from both foreigners and locals though.

[neo]

Models are in the bin career wise at her age apart from the odd exception, as pointed out nobody had a clue who she was until she hooked up with mr footballer legend. Same as the model daughter of some arms dealer who is now well known as the mistress of a certain Mr Abramovitch.

1: Celebrity
2: Power
3: Money
4: Profit?

Nothing to do with nationality, look at Micheal Douglas/ Catherine Zeta Jones. she had money, celebrity and a career in her own right and was attractive enough to choose whoever, marriage to mr Douglas put her on the A list rather than B list.

Rod Stewart? More 20 something models than playboy mansion.

This girl is attractive, but in 3 years even her agent would not remember her name. she maybe got at best 5K a day model fees while she was on top, but thats not going to last.

You can never draw any sort of conclusion of what happens in the world of celebrities/megarich/powerful is any sort of basis of what is "acceptable" for generic society, the girl is a model and no doubt craves celebrity, if being the arm candy of some hasbeen footballer is the best way for her to achieve that then thats her gameplan but don't think its going to happen to you.

BTW, you might think being married to a model is some uberfantasy but i promise you around the house, when they get out of bed and when they are on their period they look like any other girl. Dont think the just wonder around the house looking uber every day in victoria secrets underwear, nothing could be further from the truth, i dont envy the guy at all, take the makeup, 5000 dollar dress and expensive hair stylist away and you have got any other girl but probably with more attitude, vanity and less intelligence.

[Gator]

BTW, you might think being married to a model is some uberfantasy but i promise you around the house, when they get out of bed and when they are on their period they look like any other girl. Dont think the just wonder around the house looking uber every day in victoria secrets underwear, nothing could be further from the truth, i dont envy the guy at all, take the makeup, 5000 dollar dress and expensive hair stylist away and you have got any other girl but probably with more attitude, vanity and less intelligence.

Agree with the "attitude" and "vanity."  They have led a coddled and pampered life.  I was engaged briefly to a RW ex-model who had worked on the runway for 14 years in Germany and Moscow.  On our first date I discovered she did not know how to enter the Moscow metro (the metro gates slammed her legs).  Even though she worked in Germany, she knew little German.  Some men may want to pamper his woman all the time - not me.

Disagree with the "nothing could be further from the truth" about beauty.  She looked great in her 40s even without makeup while trekking mountains in Laos.  Combination of ethereal beauty and presence.

[jj]

Anything goes with the celebs.  Look at Clint Eastwood 35 yr difference.  They seem happy but who knows?   Some work out and some do not.  And he is already 76!

[Admin]

And just as a point of perspective (or two):

The Survey of Cross-Cultural Marriage and Divorce indicated the age difference between international couples to be less than 10 years, on average. However, in reviewing the detailed data, the largest reported age difference was a staggering 49 years difference.

- Dan

[I/O]

the largest reported age difference was a staggering 49 years difference.

LOL, is the punter still alive?

I/O

[Mishenka]

The lady from Lviv you mentioned was just far too young. What can you expect at that age? I am thinking of those ladies in the 20+ -30 year category marrying 50-year olds. That is a very big age difference even in Russian terms I would think? 

SB,
She was 26 when we met. Five foot four, 106 pound 34D Ukraine beauty with the face of an angel.  She had large deep blue eyes that caught everyone's attention. Smooth tan skin with a darling face that makes most working models today look common. Certainly some at 26 are mature enough to be married and have a decent relationship. Helena was not. There were 20 years between us. Now she is 34, works as an assistant to the DA in sex crimes division. 10 year difference would be max, most say 5 is typical, 20 is not common but,,, we see it more now than in the past.
 
Poka,
Mishenka

[Vaughn]

the largest reported age difference was a staggering 49 years difference.

If that was a K-1 arrangement, I would've loved to have witnessed that interview. 
 

[SilverBUllet]

SB,
She was 26 when we met. Five foot four, 106 pound 34D Ukraine beauty with the face of an angel.  She had large deep blue eyes that caught everyone's attention. Smooth tan skin with a darling face that makes most working models today look common. Certainly some at 26 are mature enough to be married and have a decent relationship. Helena was not. There were 20 years between us. Now she is 34, works as an assistant to the DA in sex crimes division. 10 year difference would be max, most say 5 is typical, 20 is not common but,,, we see it more now than in the past.
 
Poka,
Mishenka

I think it is all about the person and how one feels. I think even 25-year age difference could work for some. Remember that women from Eastern Europe are more mentally grown up than most American women. A 25-year old from Ukraine or Russia can be like a 35-year old Amercian woman in my experience. Anyhow, there will always be some age difference and who cares then if it is 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years? The most important is to have known each other for a few years before making a serious decision to get married. The problems arise when let's say a 45-year old American "speed wife shopper" meets a 21 years old beauty and after just 1 meeting and a few letters decides to get married. That would easily become a ticking divorce bomb     

[JR]

My ex Russian wife was ten years younger than I.

My favorite niece married a man 23 years older tahn herself. They have been married for about 7 years, have 3 beautiful kids and love each other very much. And that happened right here in the USA.

[Muddy]

Nobody heard the name Kirstiana Liliana until she married Mr Matthaus.
Similar for Ms Timoshenko.

By a marriage that 'rocks the world' the woman will get more exposure for her name and plans. After two or three years a big divorce at a time when the name is 'disappearing' from the headlines, and income is once again guaranteed.

Does prenup mean anything to you?  

[Stix]

I guess my concern would be his track record. With a man or a woman that's been married a number of times you have to wonder if they have an internal issue they are not willing face....

[Mir]

Just came back after watching 'Turandot' at Kiev Opera House. Highly recommended experience. Anyway a couple sitting in front of me had at least a 30 year age difference. He was around 60 and she was a ravishing blond of 30. Looked to be deeply in love by the body language, real or pretended. Both were local.

[Beaverpatrol]

Is this normal in Russia and Ukraine? Such a big age difference? A new marriage between 21 year old Ukrainian model Kristina Liliana and 47 year old German soccer legend Lothar Matthäus at 47!!!  At 21 years old, she is a staggering 26 years younger than her man. She looks stellar but her new husband like her father.    What is the opinion about this topic among women in Russia and Ukraine? It can't be normal  He is rich but still old compared to her  Would she have married him without the money 
....

With his bank account 40 years of age difference would be  also possible.

I would have stomachaches if I could be her father. 17 years of age difference are my limit:), nevertheless... a 27-year-old lady is a still OK for me