Odd couples = true love

Why a great relationship doesn't have to obey the rules of attraction

When odd couple Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia and Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik declared their love for one another, a few eyebrows were raised.

Why? Because they're hardly Brad and Ange, and neither are we. When they got together, many assumed it was a publicity stunt. But a couple of years and a sparkly rock later, they proved that you don't have to be Hollywood perfect to get it on.

While we cross our fingers for Lembo and Gabi, here are three good reasons to try an odd-couple relationship:

Are you looking for love? Meet other single people near you for fun, love or romance

1. Ugly men make devoted boyfriends

Gabriela, like her Lembit-dating predecessor Sian Lloyd, probably had her share of hot men. After years on the dating rollercoaster, she learned that pretty boys don't make the best boyfriends.

So she 'down-dated' instead, snaring a guy much further down the beauty scale. He couldn't believe his luck, and she got a devoted and grateful partner who's unlikely to run off with anyone else. Bingo!

The daters say:

'I always used to date pretty men,' says Rhiannon, 35. 'But a man's beauty can blind you to his faults. My last boyfriend took me for granted, because he knew he could have anyone he wanted.

'The guy I'm seeing now is not my type physically. We met online, and I wouldn't have looked at his photo twice if his letter hadn't struck such a chord. He really had to work. He seduced my brain, and he treats me like a princess. Basically he tries much harder, and I love it!'

Potential pitfalls:

Sian might have thought Lembit was too ugly to leave her, but he dumped her for the prettier Gabriela. Still, Sian had the last laugh by marrying millionaire motor entrepreneur Jonathan Ashman.

Down-dating can also speak volumes about your self-respect – or lack of it. Don't get into the habit of thinking that you deserve no better than a guy you don't really fancy.

Plenty of us do it. We accept a date or even a marriage proposal from a man we have reservations about, because we think we can't do any better. Well, hear this: you deserve to date someone you fancy!

Join now and start meeting other singles near you