Theresa Nist Says Suitors ‘Younger Than My Son’ Are Sliding Into Her DMs

Theresa Nist isn’t lacking in attention—especially from admirers who are much younger than her!

The “Golden Bachelor” alum and Gerry Turner, whose love story culminated in a televised wedding in January 2024, shocked fans when they announced their divorce just three months later, on April 12, 2024.

Now, back on the dating scene, Theresa Nist is attracting plenty of interest.

The couple’s split came weeks after the emotional and heartfelt ceremony that captivated Bachelor Nation. Turner and Nist had gotten engaged during the finale of the inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor," which aired in November 2023. Their journey continued with a live wedding event in January, solidifying their place in “Bachelor” history.

However, the fairytale didn’t last long. The couple revealed during a joint interview on “Good Morning America,” aired the same day as Turner’s divorce filing, that irreconcilable differences over where they should live ultimately led to their separation.

In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, she shared how she’s navigating single life post-divorce. While she’s steering clear of dating apps for now, that hasn’t stopped admirers from flooding her DMs—including suitors who are much younger than her son.

"I do get approached through Instagram direct messages, but you wouldn't believe how young these guys are," she told the outlet. "They're so young that they're younger than my son!" After letting out a chuckle, she continued, "But these young guys, I'm just baffled by it and they'll persist and persist and persist. And I'm talking 33-year-olds!"

Though Nist admits she’d prefer to “date someone younger,” she clarifies that her ideal partner would be “maybe 10 years younger” at most. "To me, age, it doesn't matter up to a point," she explained. "[But] too young, we are just not culturally the same, we didn't experience the same things growing up, the same music, the same movies. It's hard to have a conversation. And I don't think that anything is too old."

"It's just your energy. It's who you are basically," she added.

Although Nist is hopeful about finding her next great love, she admits she hasn’t ventured back into the dating scene just yet and hasn’t been on any dates since her divorce.

"I have been asked, and I've said no," she said. "I don't know. I'm more clear on what I want, so I don't want to waste anyone's time. I definitely do want to be with someone. I do," she continues. "I think life is so much better when you're with someone, but I know that it's even hard for young people to find people. Imagine how much harder it gets ... I'm 71. That number scares people."

The reality star admitted she’s “not sure” if marriage is in her future, but she’s open to finding a partner who shares a strong sense of “passion.”

"Like passion for something you love to do, something that makes you wake up and want to get out of bed in the morning," she explained of her dating requirements. "It's intelligence. It's to be able to speak on the same level. And that's really unique when you start talking to someone, whether or not you, you're understanding each other at your core."

In November 2024, Nist shared new details about her unexpected divorce from Turner, hinting that there was more to their split than what was initially disclosed.

While the couple’s original statement cited their unwavering commitments to their respective families and the resulting challenges in deciding where to live, Nist now suggests that deeper, unspoken issues also contributed to their decision to go their separate ways.

"You really can't know somebody in four weeks. I'll just say that," the NJ native shared during the November 5 episode of Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti's podcast, “Almost Famous.”

While acknowledging that their divorce was "not just the location thing," she added, "I don't wanna say any more than that." Her remarks come months after she addressed the split in a social media statement, writing, "Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned, and that’s okay."

During her conversation with Ashley and Ben, Nist shared details about a disagreement she had with Turner during one of her visits to Indiana.

"So we're driving from the airport, and it was like three hours, and we're getting closer to Gerry's house," she recalled. "So I see this open land — I don't see crops, I just think it's flat land — and I go, 'Oh wow, you could build townhomes there!' That's all I said. And Gerry said, 'Oh, so you wanna take the farmer's land away from him?' I go, 'Note to self, don't say that again.'"

Nist recalled that her remark unintentionally led to a deeper discussion about their differing perspectives on land, with Turner allegedly becoming defensive about the importance of protecting farmland in the Midwest.

Nist and Turner finalized their divorce earlier this year.