Veteran Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has opened up about the attention she continues to receive from younger men—even at 54—but made it clear that she has outgrown the season of casual flings and is now more focused on meaningful connections and commitment.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Dear Ife podcast, Bello shared that young men still flood her direct messages, though many lack the maturity or approach she considers appropriate.
“Yes, men still slide into my DMs,” she admitted with a laugh. “When you’re over 50 and young men still show interest, it’s flattering. But some of them? Their approach is ridiculous. Some just send a ‘Hi dear’—and honestly, it makes you want to insult their mothers. It’s disrespectful.”
Despite the persistent advances, Bello clarified that her priorities have shifted. She no longer seeks light-hearted fun or surface-level romance.
“I’ve dated a younger man before. It was a phase, and at the time, I was simply enjoying myself. But that chapter is closed. I’m not in that season anymore,” she said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with dating younger men, but right now, I want something different.”
That “something different,” she revealed, is marriage—though she holds a nuanced view of what it should look like.
“I’m open to marriage, but not in the traditional, rigid way many Nigerians interpret it,” Bello said. “Our societal expectations around marriage can be suffocating. My perspective is different, and I’ll just leave it at that.”
Shaffy Bello was previously married to Mr. Akinrimisi for 25 years before their separation in 2020. The former couple shares two children.
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