I only started dating aged 24… now I give advice to 'late bloomers'
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Maeby is a 24-year-old virgin. For now.

She started dating for the very first time after moving to New York right before her 24th birthday.

The content creator has since been documenting her experience for her 35,000 followers. 

Fellow late bloomers have been observing Maeby blossom in the dating world, from experiencing her first date to venturing into her initial late-night outings. 

But the social media star had not purposefully shied away from dating at a younger age.

She candidly told her TikTok followers that she was never pursued romantically as a teen.

It was not until her mid-twenties that she put her pride aside and started pursuing relationships more proactively.

Her mom even offered her $200 to go on dates as Maeby shared: ‘She always tells me that she wants me to live the most life that I can.’

Maeby started dating for the very first time after moving to New York right before her 24th birthday

Maeby started dating for the very first time after moving to New York right before her 24th birthday

Fellow late bloomers have now been watching Maeby flourish in the dating scene, from going on her first date to her first ever late night rendezvous

Fellow late bloomers have now been watching Maeby flourish in the dating scene, from going on her first date to her first ever late night rendezvous

Her friends then helped her make a Bumble profile and gave her the confidence to put herself out there.

In an exclusive with the Daily Mail, Maeby expressed: ‘If I never take this step and one day I find myself 30 and wanting to date, it will be much more challenging for me to begin than it is now.’

Maeby was the self-proclaimed ‘DUF’ (Designated Ugly Friend) growing up and even made up fake boyfriends and crushes to better relate to her friends.

In adulthood, she realized that dating is supposed to be fun rather than competitive or stressful.

She said: ‘I think the thought of doing something new is always scarier than actually doing it.

‘I just sort of knew that the longer that I waited, the scarier that it would be. At this point, it wasn’t anything super daunting to think about.’

Dating coach and matchmaker Blaine Anderson encouraged other ‘late bloomers’ to do the same.

She told the Daily Mail: ‘Don’t overthink it, especially don’t dwell on it, and dive in.

Maeby was the self-proclaimed 'DUF' (Designated Ugly Friend) growing up and even made up fake boyfriends and crushes to better relate to her friends

Maeby was the self-proclaimed ‘DUF’ (Designated Ugly Friend) growing up and even made up fake boyfriends and crushes to better relate to her friends

‘Many of my clients tend to be overly critical of themselves over their lack of dating experience. Inexperience itself isn’t necessarily a red flag, but highlighting it isn’t appealing.’

Even though she is an open book online, Maeby avoids talking about her virginity with potential hookups.

She said: ‘I don’t mention it, I think especially telling a guy that you’re a virgin can invite unwarranted opinions and maybe motives.’

She added that they wouldn’t be able to tell either way: ‘Guys don’t know s**t. You can fake it till you make it. They’re so oblivious, they’re not gonna know that you’ve never done this and also they don’t really care.’

Blaine said that confidence goes a long way since constantly asking for reassurance can be unattractive: ‘The key is avoiding making a big deal out of your inexperience and being confident in what you bring to the table.’

But, in general, late bloomers like Maeby aren’t doomed from the start.

Blaine said: ‘All else equal, being a late bloomer isn’t a curse.

‘I think a lot of singles would be glad to date someone who isn’t jaded or hasn’t seen it all already… How you show up and how you make people feel matters more than being a “late bloomer” or having limited past dating experience.’

New singles are often more optimistic and open to new things. Maeby, for example, has a dating bucket list of items she can’t wait to try.

She explained: ‘I’ve never experienced going to the amusement park with your boyfriend. Going on a picnic date or having a hot make-out session in a car.

‘Those are all things that happen in all of these coming-of-age movies that I’ve never experienced.’

Other items on her list are losing her virginity, going on a double date, faking an engagement and getting broken up with.

For her, having fun is ‘the most important aspect’ and it takes the pressure off. She said she finally has the maturity to pursue fun, casual relationships and the level-headedness not to let them ruin her life:

‘I have a better head on my shoulders than I did at 16. I think if I started to date at 16, I would’ve gone crazy.

‘I don’t think I had the capacity to go through a breakup. I think it’s crazy that so many people fall in love and do all of that when they’re 16. Just cause, I don’t think I was emotionally there when I was that age.’

As her followers wait with bated breath for her next dating update, she reminds her fellow late bloomers that there is no rush.

She said: ‘Don’t let the late part scare you. You’re not really behind. You’re just sort of on your own timeline.’

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