This stunning woman became a gran at 38 but strangers assume her granddaughter is her daughter.
Dionne Smith, from South East London, UK, is constantly having to convince people that she is not the mother of Granddaughter Zariah, because of how young and glamorous she is.
Dionne was 38 when she discovered she was about to become a gran and admitted that she felt too young to be a grandparent, which is why she avoids the terms ‘gran’ and ‘granny’ because she thinks they make her sound too old.
Instead calling herself a ‘glam-ma’.
She was 16 years old when she gave birth to her eldest son, Jordan, who became a dad to Zariah when he was 23.
Dionne added: “I definitely thought I was too young to be a grandma when I found out my son, Jordan, was having a baby, but then again, I thought I was too young to become a mum.
“Jordan was much older than I was when I had him, so I couldn’t really say anything.”
The celebrity hairstylist says she prefers to be called ‘nanny’ and also refers to herself as a glam-ma.
Dionne said: “I didn’t feel old enough to be called gran or grandma so I decided I was going to be called ‘glam-ma’ because lots of people were saying that I was going to be a very glamorous and young grandmother, so I came up with my own term.
“I knew from the start that I didn’t want to be called gran because it just didn’t feel right as I was in my thirties, so I either go by glam-ma, or my granddaughter calls me nanny.
“People tell me all the time that I look so young for my age. They say they’d guess that I’m in my late twenties or early thirties.”
Dionne says that people are shocked when she reveals she has a son in his early thirties and two more sons in their twenties as well as a granddaughter.
Dionne said: “They say that I hardly look like a mum, never mind a gran.
“I have to admit that I do have really good genes because everyone in my family looks young for their age too. “I also like to look after myself, live my best life, and get dressed up in stylish clothes.”
Although it took some getting used to, Dionne loves being a young gran to her granddaughter.
She says there are many perks, but it can also be challenging to balance still building her career, her kids, and her granddaughter.
Dionne added: “Becoming a gran before 40 means that I am young enough to keep up with my granddaughter.
“I have that young energy and mentality and the way that I think is different to most older grandparents. I’m not traditional and set in certain ways.
Although, Dionne does reflect on her career goals and the challenges she faces trying to build a career and find a balance between herself, being a mum and a grandmother.
She said: “Sometimes I feel guilty for working hard and building a career, as it feels like I have to sacrifice quality time with my family.
“However, Zariah loves having a younger gran, and there is definitely a difference between the relationship she has with her gran on the other side who is older.”
Falling pregnant at 16 and becoming a teenage mum was difficult for a teenager.
She stated that she didn’t have support from her family and had to leave school without any qualifications to look after her baby, but she says this just made her more determined to make something of herself.
Dionne added: “It was really hard. My family were disappointed in me, and so were my teachers as they had high hopes for me.
“My dad said I had disgraced the family, and that I was just going to be another wasted teenage parent.
“This just fuelled me to do better for myself and keep going.”
She added: “All of a sudden, I had a baby to take care of, so it gave me the drive to make something of my life.
“I always wanted to work for myself so I could make money but also have the flexibility and freedom to be there for my kids if something happened.
“I had to push myself and work really hard to achieve my dreams.
“I think becoming a mum at 16 made me the way I am today and gave me that drive.
“I wouldn’t change my life for the world.”
Dionne, like many young mothers, are proving that having children doesn’t mean you have to give up your career goals and ambitions whilst still raising your family.
With around 20% of women in the US having their first child after 35, this mean that parents are more likely to be older by the time they become grandparents.
Whereas, Dionne loves being a younger grandmother as it makes her more understanding and open- minded with ways of life and this contributes to her special bond with Zariah.