At just 23 years old, Hannah Dickson has never been interested in men her own age, finding them too immature and preoccupied with video games. Her heart belongs to 57-year-old Chris Willingham, a man more than twice her age, and she makes no apologies for their powerful connection.
The couple, who have a 34-year age gap, are using their social media platform to showcase a different kind of love story. "Don't knock it till you try it," Hannah jokes about their relationship. "Regardless of how old somebody is, you can have two people the same age come together and not be compatible."
From Gym Sessions to Therapy Sessions
Their love story began in early 2025 at their local gym, where Hannah approached fitness enthusiast Chris for personal training. They started training together in February, and their professional relationship quickly blossomed into something much deeper.
"I started to refer to our meetings as 'therapy sessions,'" Hannah recalls. The turning point came during a beach trip, when she sent him a text message saying she missed these sessions. "The rest is kind of a blur, it happened so fast," she admits. Upon her return, their interactions became "a lot more personal and flirty."
For Chris, their immediate connection was undeniable. "We kind of hit it off, she was full of life and a free spirit," he explains. "She would come in and we would have conversations about everything and anything."
Morning Walks and a Leap of Faith
Their bond strengthened during early morning walks. Chris, who rises at 3 am for cardio, casually invited Hannah to join him. "I had no expectation she would come, but she did," he says. "She showed up every morning for a month, we would walk and talk for 45 minutes."
Encouraged by her commitment, Chris decided to take a leap of faith. "I sent her a text message after a training session and said to meet me at the park. I sat in the passenger seat and I just went for it." By March 2025, the pair were officially a couple.
The topic of their significant age difference has only come up once in conversation, framed in a poignant way. Hannah explains, "Age difference was discussed one time in the sense that, would you rather have 20 good years with somebody versus 60 bad years with someone else."
Defying Expectations and Building a Future
The couple faces frequent public scrutiny, with online commentators often mistaking them for father and daughter. Hannah remains unbothered, noting that her family is supportive. Her father has already met Chris at a family wedding, and the interaction was "good and positive."
"As long as I'm happy and the person takes care of me it doesn't matter to my parents," she says.
Despite being together for just eight months, they have discussed future plans, including the possibility of freezing Chris's sperm should they decide to start a family. Chris already has a 14-year-old son who 'loves Hannah to death' and is the couple's 'biggest fan.' Hannah, however, is still uncertain about having children of her own.
For now, she cherishes the stability and direction Chris brings. "I think the best thing about dating an older man is that he's got goals and aspirations, he wants to go somewhere and he has a life."
For Chris, Hannah has revitalised his world. "She's kind of shown me how to live," he reflects. "You spend your whole life operating within these boundaries of social norms and all of a sudden you wake up and your life has taken a turn for the worse. You meet someone that's a free spirit and you can start living and be the person you always wanted to be."
A standout memory for him was a trip to Nashville, where he danced for the first time in 20 years, emboldened by Hannah's energy. "We just connect," Chris concludes. "It's a special relationship and we recognised that from the beginning."
