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A SELF-CONFESSED cougar has shared some of her dating wisdom, including the type of guy she'd never waste her time with.

Tara Gen is proudly in her fifties but prefers to date men decades younger - but it's not always smooth sailing for the gran.

Tara shared the one type of guy she wouldn't waste her time with on TikTok
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Tara shared the one type of guy she wouldn't waste her time with on TikTokCredit: tiktok/@tara26000016
According to do the self-confessed cougar 'pretty' men garner too much attention
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According to do the self-confessed cougar 'pretty' men garner too much attentionCredit: tiktok/@tara26000016

Having previously dated men younger than her sons, who are 30 and 24, Tara has plenty of experience under her belt and doesn't care what trolls think about her dating life.

She recently took to TikTok to explain why she'd never date a certain kind of bloke and why others should steer clear too.

"Whatever you do, don't date the pretty man," she said in the viral social media clip.

According to Tara there is simply "too much competition" for it to be worth it.

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Instead, she urged viewers to settle for a "decent looking man" who has a "good heart".

"I'm telling you, you will save yourself so much headache," she added.

In the video, Tara went on to say being the "big fish in the little pond" is so much better when it comes to dating.

Not only that, but picking a man based on looks alone doesn't always pay off since looks fade, Tara explained.

Previously, the gran also urged singletons to go for another type of man that's often overlooked.

"Don't overlook the short kings," she said in a recent TikTok video.

My husband I were both addicted to drugs - he OD'ed and now I'm in love with his BROTHER, people say I 'sicken' them

"They are funny, they're smart, and they're so unbelievably sweet."

Tara knows a thing or two about how great short men can be since her own dad was significantly shorter than her mum.

"The best thing she ever did was marry that man," she added.

After sharing her dating tips on social media others agreed with her points, with one person commenting on the clip: "Finally, a woman on here that gets it!"

A second agreed: "Yes looks fade pick someone nice instead ladies."

"Great advice, this is why I'm still single," another wrote.

Although Tara, who is in her fifties, didn't say if she had dated any short men she's definitely no stranger to breaking relationship norms.

In the past she's dated men younger than her sons, who are 30 and 24, and even has men begging to go out with her whenever she posts content on social media.

She also revealed she hates when younger men want her to be their "sugar cougar" and shower them in gifts, she revealed.

Because of this, the gran confessed she usually keeps her love of younger men "on the down low", and even has to make sure she's not friends with the parents of her romantic partners.

She explained she's not looking for a husband and just wants to have fun with her young lovers.

This came after someone commented on a previous video and wrote: "For the young guys, just hit and run. These women are damaged goods."

But the gran had no time for haters and explained that she's not looking for love.

In fact, it's the men who keep chasing her.

"Strangely enough, I can't get rid of them once I've dated them they won't go away," she said.

Tara explained she can tell if she's going to hit it off with someone instantly, but they often get the wrong impression and she ends up having to break it off with them.

She confessed she doesn't want to waste her time with someone she's not compatible with, unlike the younger men she dates.

The blonde beauty is so popular online that she was even contacted by a casting company to appear on a reality show about cougar moms.

Though she's received plenty of opportunities, it hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows for her.

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Since she's become popular online, Tara has received inappropriate messages.

Among the worst are unsolicited naked photos, or men saying that they know where she lives and would come to assault her.

Tara shared more of her dating advice on TikTok
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Tara shared more of her dating advice on TikTok

Top dating trends of 2025

  1. Swamping: When you find someone you can comfortably share your 'swamp' with and let go of the pressure to be anything but your true authentic self.
  2. No-habiting: When you choose to wait longer to move in with your partner because you value your personal space.
  3. Fiscal Attraction: When you won't settle for less and you're seeking a match who is financially secure and who you find attractive.
  4. Rejuve-dating: When you cast away the blues and grow from past experiences so you can fully embrace the future of your dating journey.
  5. Thrift-matised: When you like to go on dates but hit that sweet spot between being cheap and frugal. Hidden gems, loyalty cards - these are all your type on paper.
  6. Loud-dating: Cutting to the chase, being open and to the point with what you want so you don't waste your time.
  7. Marmalading: When you literally put your other half ‘before anything else’, much like Britain’s most beloved bear’s love for marmalade.
  8. Digital Ex-pression: The stage after a break-up when you are done grieving and turn to social media to share how you are healing to confidently get back out on the dating scene.
  9. Fine-wining: Proactively finding people to date who are older than you and who've aged just like a fine wine.
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