I’m a proud cougar at 43 who’s dated lads as young as 18...

A self-confessed cougar who dates men 23 years her junior defends Bridget Jones' age gap relationship. Shirley Rosemary Flynn, 43, started dating younger men 10 years ago after finding that men her own age were "boring" and "didn't want to explore in the bedroom" in the same way she did. Now she exclusively dates men in their 20s and 30s and says other women should "go for it". Her comments come after Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy came under fire for its age gap relationship.

Image Credit: The Sun [Portrait of a woman with long curly hair and a flower crown.]

Shirley, an influencer and customer sales advisor, from Birmingham, West Midlands, said: "I prefer guys in their 20s. "When men date get older and date younger women no one says anything. "When a women does they get seen as a slapper. "I'm not going to look this good forever. "I'm not going to have the stamina. "I've got to make the most out of it. "Go out and enjoy yourself - it's your life.". Shirley started dating younger men in around 2015 after not finding what she was after in men her own age.

Image Credit: The Sun [Portrait of Shirley Rosemary Flynn.]

She said: "I dated a couple of guys who weren't good in bed. "They weren't adventurous.". Shirley has dated men as young as 18 previously but now says aged 20 is her limit. She said: "At aged 18 some are not mature to take a women like me. "I see myself as a powerful woman.". Shirley says she also finds men her age also find her "intimidating" whereas young males like the "challenge". She said: "A lot of men I have met in their 40s or 50s tend to gamble and smoke - I find that off putting.".

Image Credit: The Sun [Portrait of Shirley Rosemary Flynn wearing a burgundy beanie with "BOY" on it.]

Shirley says you have got to be confident in yourself if you want to date younger men as she does get a lot of "judgement" - as well as embarrassing moments. She said: "At first it felt a bit weird. "A guy got ID'd who I was with - that was a bit embarrassing. "One said 'thank you mum'.". But Shirley says the good out weighs the negativity. She said: "Dating the younger guys it's like an experiment. "It's a lot more fun than dating older men.

"They are not afraid to try new things. A new report has lifted the lid on bedroom antics. The research, conducted by experts at Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, revealed the average number of times people of different generations have sex per month. "Older men see an attractive woman as a threat. "Younger men see us as a challenger. "The first guy to make me orgasm was a younger guy.". Shirley says women shouldn't be ashamed to try dating someone younger - like Bridget Jones does in the new film - but says they should "love themselves" first.