I was a 'stay-at-home girlfriend'... the lifestyle may look glamorous online but it's not what it seems
Dating a rich man, traveling the globe by his side and not having to work... sounds like a dream come true, right?
Well, according to influencer Diana Sidva, the lifestyle is not as glamorous as some may think.
The social media star, 23, from Lisbon, Portugal, told the Daily Mail that she spent months being a 'stay-at-home girlfriend.'
Her 'financially successful' beau - she did not share his name for privacy reasons but revealed he was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Italy list - gave her a 'monthly allowance' so she didn't have to work.
At first, it was great. She had tons of free time and spent her days doing Pilates, grabbing brunch with her friends and being flooded with gifts from her boyfriend.
But what initially seemed like a glamorous and effortless lifestyle came with severe 'emotional costs' that ultimately 'outweighed the comfort.'
She laid bare the highs and lows of the often sought-after lifestyle exclusively with the Daily Mail.
Sidva explained that she was a 'well-established content creator' and she often snagged brand deals in 'beauty, fashion and haircare' when she was introduced to her now-ex-boyfriend by a yoga instructor whom she 'regularly trained with.'
Influencer Diana Sidva, 23, from Lisbon, Portugal, spent months being a 'stay-at-home girlfriend' but said the lifestyle was not as glamorous as some may think
She laid bare the highs and lows of the often sought-after lifestyle exclusively with the Daily Mail
'She was also teaching yoga for his team during corporate events, and she introduced us,' she explained.
They started dating in December 2024, and soon after they got together, he encouraged her to take a step back from her career as an influencer.
'He traveled frequently for work and wanted me to always be with him,' Sidva continued.
While at first she tried to continue working while she traveled with him, she had a hard time balancing her career and relationship.
'As a creator, that wasn't realistic [to maintain]. My work requires planning, locations, filming and editing,' she said.
'Even though it's remote, it still requires structure and independence. Gradually, he began offering me a monthly allowance so I wouldn't have to work.'
At first, Sidva said it was 'freeing' to not have to worry about her job. But soon after she stopped working, she said the 'dynamic' between her and her boyfriend 'shifted.'
'I suddenly had more time and focused on sports, reformer Pilates, meeting friends for breakfast and spending more time with my family,' she dished.
She explained that her 'financially successful' beau - she did not share his name for privacy reasons - gave her a 'monthly allowance' so she didn't have to work
At first, it was great... she had tons of free time and spent her days doing Pilates, grabbing brunch with her friends and being flooded with gifts from her boyfriend
'I had [so much] free time, less stress and more focus on self-care and physical well-being. But comfort without growth eventually turned into stagnation.
'Over time, however, the dynamic shifted. He wanted to be with me constantly, 24/7. He began joining me everywhere, even to workouts or casual outings.
'If I went to see my family and returned even slightly later than planned, it would cause emotional outbursts. I started limiting myself to avoid conflict.'
She said he used his financial support as a 'form of influence and emotional leverage,' and even started using his money as a 'tool of pressure.'
'If I behaved in ways he didn't like, financial support could suddenly be withdrawn,' she recalled.
Sidva noted that 'financial dependence creates an imbalance' in any relationship, and she quickly learned it was not for her.
'Like many women, I was influenced by the "Pilates, matcha, stay-at-home girlfriend" lifestyle shown on social media,' she said.
'It looks calm, feminine and effortless... everything [being] taken care of - I was drawn to that idea.
But what initially seemed like a glamorous and effortless lifestyle came with severe 'emotional costs' that ultimately 'outweighed the comfort'
'The reality, however, was very different. I learned that for me, giving up independence came with emotional costs that outweighed the comfort.
'Working and building something of my own turned out to be far healthier and more fulfilling.'
Sidva said the relationship ultimately became 'emotionally unhealthy' so she decided to end things.
After their breakup, she started fresh, rebuilding her online brand 'from scratch' - and now, she couldn't be more proud of how far she's come.
'In two months, I grew a new audience of over 10,000 followers and began working actively with UGC and brand collaborations again,' she dished. 'I'm now fully independent and working for myself.'
'Online, people show only the aesthetics - Pilates, coffee dates, gifts. They don't show the emotional cost or power imbalance that can develop behind the scenes,' she reminded others.
'My message is simple: never give up your financial independence completely. Even in loving relationships, having your own income, work, and purpose protects you.'
