Woman to Woman: Older Women, Younger Men

Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake...

Madonna and Guy Ritchie...

They're among the celebrity couples making headlines for turning the dating world upside down.

"Older women, younger men. It seems to be a trend in Hollywood. Is it the popular thing?" Beatriz asks columnist Suzy Buckley of "Ocean Drive" Magazine.

"It's a popular trend right now," she replies.

Recent studies show that a third of women over 50 are dating younger men.

And Suzy says those May/December romances are popping up right here in South Florida too.

"Do people want to be like Hollywood?" asks Beatriz.

"Of course, people will always emulate what's going on in Hollywood," Suzy says. "I mean, it just sort of sets a social trend."

You could say Tara Solomon and Nick D'Annunzio helped start the local trend.

The couple has been dating for nearly six years, despite their 14-year age difference.

"I've always dated younger men," says Tara, "so, to me, it was just slightly younger than I typically dared to go."

"I've always been attracted to older women," says Nick, "because they're more confident, and they know what they want more out of life."

Their chance encounter at a South Beach nightclub has led to not just romance but a powerhouse work partnership as well.

Speaking Woman To Woman, Tara likes it.

"I think the Ashton, Demi thing is fantastic," says Tara. "I think it really liberates women to choose the mate that they want as opposed to the mate they think society would have them choose."

"Women are looking a lot better, a lot longer these days," says Suzy, "due to, of course, plastic surgery, botox, collagen injections and everything else, so, sometimes the age differential isn't so noticeable anymore."

But for an older woman/younger man relationship to work, experts say you shouldn't feel guilty or self-conscious.

Also, choose someone with your same energy and lifestyle.

"Follow your heart," suggests Tara. "Do not give into fear, and do not be so careful to listen to something someone else tells you."

Tara's following her heart all the way to the altar.

She and Nick are getting married later this year or next spring.

"It's really the time for a woman to choose the man who she wants to be with regardless of his age," she says, "and with Nick, Nick could be 30 or 50 or 20 and I would love Nick."

There was word that the Demi Moore- Ashton Kutcher relationship was a publicity stunt.

But no one will argue, they make a good looking couple.

Contact: bcanals@wsvn.com