Russian Influencer Marries 20-Year-Old Stepson After Divorcing His Dad

A Russian influencer who is marrying her 20-year-old stepson posted a picture of herself with him 13 years ago when he was aged seven hoping to win support - but it backfired instead. 

Instead of persuading people to support her, Marina Balmasheva, 35, attracted a storm of protest when she shared the before-and-after photo on Instagram with her 420,000 followers. Marina, who hails from the western Russian region of Krasnodar Krai, lived with her husband Alexey, 45, for over 10 years before the relationship ended in divorce.

The new man in her life is her ex-husband's 20-year-old son, Vladimir. In the controversial Instagram post, Balmasheva shared a snap of her posing next to little Vladimir 13 years ago when he was just seven-years-old. Alongside the photo, she included a more recent picture of the happy couple cuddling.

You never know how life will turn out and when you will meet a person who makes you smile,' Maria recently commented. 'I know that some will judge us, others will support us, but we are happy and wish you to be as well.'

Marina added she is very much in love with Vladimir, and the couple are helping to raise three of his five siblings, according to reports. She reportedly adopted her ex-husband's five children when they were together, but the youngest one, who has Down syndrome, continues to live with the father.

Marina revealed that she wants to have children with Vladimir and that they are currently planning their wedding. Many were left outraged following the post and said it was immoral to start a relationship with the child that she had helped to raise. Netizen 'SvetlanaNakhshumova' commented: 'What shocks me most is that this boy grew up before her very eyes.' Others went on to make crude comments about her ditching an older man for a younger model.