When star Charlotte headed to the Dominican Republic on a family holiday, she was looking forward to the sun and sea, but jokes she ended up experiencing another word that begins with the letter s.
While watching a show at the hotel with her mother and stepdad, her eyes locked with the ‘incredibly good-looking, cheeky and smiley’ entertainer Johan.
‘I looked at him, looked away, and then he was suddenly standing next to me,’ she recalled.
The next few days, the pair would chat around the pool, during mealtimes and steal glances in each other’s directions.
‘I was quite taken aback by his confidence – he was very forward in asking me if I had a husband – and although we couldn’t communicate clearly all the time as we had different first languages, it was clear there was a very big spark and a lot of chemistry,’ barber Charlotte told Metro.co.uk.
As it became increasingly obvious they had an interest in each other, Johan, 21, asked Charlotte, 34, to spend his days off with him outside of the resort.
‘He made me feel comfortable,’ Charlotte says of those early days together.
She emphasised: ‘He really did take care of me. One time I asked for a coffee and he wouldn’t let me touch the cup as he thought it was too hot for my hands. I’d never had a boyfriend go to that extent for me… almost to the point that it was weird.’
Southampton-based Charlotte, who’d been single for six years, was Johan’s girlfriend as she boarded her home. The pair spoke on the phone all day every day while apart, and during a trip back to the Caribbean island four months later, she accepted a marriage proposal. ‘I was very very happy. We were like lovestruck teenagers just gazing at each other. It felt like I was living a perfect dream, and I’d struggle with adjusting back to my normal life. I was besotted and enjoyed being caught up in the whirlwind romance.’ As their relationship progressed, Charlotte began to show her love with monetary gifts. While her family and friends may have had concerns about the choice (including her mum who branded Charlotte a ‘sugar mummy’), she insists it was completely her decision.
‘I got told to be careful about what I give him, but my wages are a lot higher than his, so on visits I would be the one doing most of the spending.
‘Johan couldn’t visit the UK as he needed a visa, so I always flew to him so it did impact my bank balance but that’s how I wanted to spend the money.’
She continued: ‘I absolutely love treating him. Buying Johan a gold watch, or sending £20 every now and again is what made me happy.’
Charlotte’s spending has also included medication for Johan’s mother, a new roof for his family home after it was damaged by a tornado and a passport for Johan.
‘He was always grateful so I did get sick of hearing people’s negative opinions,’ she stated, adding that some people also expressed worry about their 13-year age gap. Something Charlotte herself found ‘horrifying’ after discovering his age after already knowing him for a few weeks. However, she’d already begun to fall for him so put her feelings aside.
‘It made things harder for me,’ she says of people’s opinions. ‘It led to having some doubts, but then I’d remember that nobody lives my life for me. I’m the one in the driving seat.’
Charlotte ploughed on with her romance, ignoring the outside noise, and quickly took things to the next level. They were actively trying to have a baby, and after just four trips to the Dominican Republic, Charlotte was walking up the aisle.
‘I just wanted to be his wife. I lost my dad shortly after we met, and it made me realise that one minute you’re here, and the next minute you’re gone. It was a kick in the backside,’ she shared.
Her special day was documented on the Discovery+ show that follows couples from different countries who pursue a long-distance relationship, before the wedding to ensure they can close the geographical gap between them.
Things don’t go to plan in the latest episode, with Johan not at the wedding venue on time, leaving Charlotte waiting in the blazing sun while wearing a long-sleeved dress.
As the credits rolled, viewers were left in suspense about whether the groom turns up at all, and the scenes were hard for Charlotte to watch back as she felt Johan was acting out of character in the build-up.
‘It was like the lights were on but nobody was home. I put it down to nerves, and assumed we’d be okay after the wedding,’ she said. ‘When I watch it back I feel the same anxious feelings I did again, but it’s also like watching someone else.’
Viewers will have to tune into the next episode to discover if they say ‘I do’.
Charlotte teased: ‘Johan has changed my life completely, and I wouldn’t change anything. He’s made me realise I’m actually a very loving person. My softer side is here to stay.’
90 Day Fiancé UK is available to stream now on Discovery Plus with a new episode available to watch every Monday
