In a story that has captured the hearts and attention of many, a 56-year-old American, Dino Soriano, and a 27-year-old Nigerian ex-beauty queen, Joyceline Kalu, have opened up about the online criticism they’ve faced due to their significant age gap and cultural differences. The couple, who met on Instagram through Joyceline’s crochet business, have shared their journey from a business relationship to marriage.

A Love Story Born from Business

In a recent interview with the YouTube channel “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” which has since gone viral, Soriano recounted how he first reached out to Joyceline with a business inquiry. “I met my wife through her crochet business. We are being judged online because people have an attitude. They have an issue with her being younger than me,” Soriano explained. He highlighted the societal scrutiny they face: “The way the world looks at us, I’m white, she’s black, I’m older [56], she is younger [27], I am from America, she is from Nigeria.”

Joyceline shared her perspective on their initial interaction. “We met through Instagram. He was literally looking for crochet for three of his girlfriends, three girlfriends in Africa and all over the world,” she said. What began as a business transaction quickly turned into something more profound. “He said, ‘Can you send this to this person?’ and I was like, ‘Okay, no problem.’ We started talking, and the same day he said, ‘Would you like to come to the US to establish your business?’ and I was like, ‘Hell yeah.’ One week later, we were not dating. We were just talking about business, and we fell in love.”

Overcoming Challenges Together

Soriano and Joyceline’s relationship blossomed despite the challenges. Reflecting on their first meeting, Soriano shared, “We knew there was chemistry. We knew it was there. I was a single parent for almost 20 years, and it was very complicated to try and have a relationship when you’re a single dad, going to college, and putting yourself through medical school. We’re living our best life.”

The couple got married in secret and had planned to visit Soriano’s family in Florida to share the news of their nuptials. However, their plan took an unexpected turn when Soriano accidentally posted the news on Facebook, revealing their marriage to his family, including his daughters, Antonette and ZaZa.

Family Acceptance and Online Criticism

Although initially shocked, Soriano’s daughters have embraced Joyceline. Antonette admitted her initial thoughts were, “I hope she’s older than me,” but upon meeting Joyceline, she realized her new stepmother was different from what she had imagined. “I thought we had a pretty good conversation when we met and knew that she’d fit in with the family because she’s interesting and smart,” Antonette said.

Despite their family’s acceptance, Soriano and Joyceline continue to face online judgment. Soriano addressed the critics directly: “Some people are like, ‘Oh she’s just there for the money’ or ‘she’s going to want a young man to satisfy her,’ and my response is, ‘How do you know she isn’t already satisfied? How do you know that she doesn’t have everything she wants? You don’t. I do.’”

Joyceline, unfazed by the negativity, stated, “I don’t usually pay any attention to any doubts that anyone can have about us. If anyone’s doubting us, that’s their problem.”

Looking Forward

Dino Soriano and Joyceline Kalu’s love story, marked by their wedding on March 9, 2023, continues to inspire many. Their resilience in the face of criticism and their commitment to each other demonstrate that love transcends age and cultural boundaries.

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Credit: Punch