'I'm engaged to a stranger from TikTok - trolls say he's only with me for one reason'

A woman who met her partner through posting has been hit with cruel comments from telling her he's only with her for one reason.

Brit Lucy Downes says she instantly hit it off with Glenny Philip, who lived a whopping 4,000 miles away, after he watched her live TikTok videos and became 'smitten'. Glenny, 34, is from Saint Kitts, Caribbean, and people think he's only 'after a green card' from Lucy, 29, as the pair are now planning their .

Lucy, who describes Glenny as 'really' fit, has remained head over heels despite their long-distance romance, but the couple have taken their time to tie the knot as Lucy was in the process of selling the home she previously shared with her ex. She has been forced to prove her family wrong about her new beau, as they were initially hesitant about their relationship, but adds they have now changed their mind over her fiance.

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Lucy, a administrator, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said she knows people make comments over her fiance's intentions, but argues that people 'don't know' about her life and slams trolls for trying to bring them down. She said: "At the start, people said he's 'only there for a green card'. 'He's going to leave you'. They don't know our life. There were so many people trying to bring us down."

Glenny stayed in the UK for six months before Lucy travelled to Saint Kitts with him for two weeks, and it was there he got down on one knee. They then went 10 months apart, but Glenny is now back in the UK, and now planning their wedding in November.

Glenny, who is currently unemployed, said: "I was just glad we didn't give up on each other. I love her and I love her kids - that's all I care about." Lucy started to notice Glenny watching her TikTok videos as she spoke about the breakdown of her relationship, and they quickly progressed when they started chatting on .

They now hope Glenny will receive his spousal visa when they tie the knot. When she went live on TikTok, she says she saw a lot of "Nigerian men who would pop up wanting money. I could invite people to a box to talk to me.

"Glenny joined and said 'You need to stop talking to these people and be yourself'. He kept calling my live and giving me advice." When it comes to what drew his attention to Lucy, he explained: "I almost deleted my account when I came across her.

"I just used to watch. She was so soft-spoken. I liked the way she conducted her life. I didn't think you could actually meet people on TikTok." Lucy messaged Glenny in April 2022 asking to see him and the pair started chatting on WhatsApp. She added: "He was really fit and really muscly. I couldn't believe it was him. We were on phone calls all the time - all through the night.

"It was quick. When people say you know when you know - you do. We were so real from the first day - so honest." The couple realised they shared things in common, as well as their emotional connection and difficult living situations.

Lucy was living with her ex as they were in the process of selling their house, while Glenny didn't have a fixed address. These issues meant the couple didn't meet until March 2023, but when they did it was 'amazing'.

Lucy shared: "When I got him from the airport I was so nervous. When Glenny came out - it so hard to describe how I felt. Glenny said 'you're so short'." While Glenny added: "Meeting in person was the best day of my life. That day was amazing."

He then stayed for six months, meeting her two young children and spending time with Lucy. The pair then went to Saint Kitts together so Lucy could meet his family, and Glenny proposed while they were out for dinner.

"All of a sudden all his friends came in with love hearts and roses and he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him," she recalls. However, they then had to spend 10 months apart while Glenny applied for his fiance visa.

They were finally reunited again in August 2024 and are now planning their wedding for November this year and Lucy says he "can't go home" due to being "so close" to her son, nine, and daughter, five. Once married the pair want to apply for Glenny to get a spousal visa to allow him to live and work in the UK - but it comes at a £5,000 cost.

Lucy says her family and friends were hesitant when she first told them about her relationship with Glenny and the pair have also faced negativity on social media. "My dad said 'you don't know who he is'. He was looking out for me. When they met him they changed their minds. We proved them wrong - we know what we want."

Do you have a story to share? Email Niamh.Kirk@reachplc.com

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