I didn't know what 'MILF' meant until a few years ago, but I embraced the label when I started dating younger men on reality TV

• Christina Best is a mom and PR professional who went on the TLC reality series "MILF Manor."

• Best had only learned the term "MILF" a few years prior — but embraced the opportunity.

• This is her story, as told to the journalist Palmer Haasch.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christina Best about her experience as a contestant on TLC's "MILF Manor," one of 2023's most talked-about new reality shows. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was recommended by someone for "MILF Manor." Honestly, I did not think I would get on the show.

I'm in PR and marketing, and I have a soon-to-be 22-year-old son who's attending college right now. I was married for almost 20 years and went through a very painful, public divorce because I'm from a small town. I'm just a very independent woman — and very competitive, as you'll see on the show — and I don't date in my hometown. There's a lot of talk there, and not my type of guys.

I had not heard of the word "MILF" until a few years prior. I was out one night with girlfriends dancing. A younger guy came up and was like, "You're such a MILF," and I'm like, "What is that?"

I think the word can be over-scrutinized. We know who came up with that word — obviously, men. I'm not offended by it, but it took me aback when I first heard it. To me, a MILF is just an independent woman. She's a mom, but she can have fun, and she can be sexy, and be a CEO, a boss — whatever she wants to be.

I've raised my amazing son, and now I feel like it's my turn to live my life.

I did my audition for "MILF Manor" and they loved it. I did not really know much about what it entailed, but I was asked if I had dated younger. I said yes because I had dated one younger guy before. It's a lot of work preparing for these shows. I was just excited to go to Canada, where it's filmed, and possibly meet someone.

I was so nervous when I got to the house. I remember pulling up, and not knowing what to expect being in front of the cameras. I love to meet new people — that's part of my personality. Meeting the other women outside was amazing. You could feel a little bit of the unknown when you first got there, but we all looked different, had different personalities, and I was just excited to be there.

I went to the house to make platonic friendships, too, because, as women, we should support each other. Everyone is competitive in their own way, but we're there for a reason. I can be competitive but still compassionate with other people. But when it comes to love or a potential partner, I can get a little protective.

When the guys first got off the boat… I wish you could have been there. Definitely very attractive. A producer asked my type before I got onto the show. I kept saying that I didn't have one, but I finally described a guy with curly black hair, loud and fun like me, and taller. And I manifested a guy that looked like that to a T.

I had literally described Joey. I thought I hit the lottery. I was like, "This is why I'm in Canada. This is why I was meant to come here." When he came off the boat, there was a vibe immediately. The more we talked and hung out, it was like when you're around someone you feel like you've known forever. It was just easy, and I felt like he was pretty genuine. And I mean, he's hot, so that helped too. I don't know what I would have done if my son came out that door, like in "MILF Manor" season one.

I am a woman that goes after what she wants, that's part of my competitive nature. But we were there to possibly meet someone, and I just took the bull by the horns. I got Champagne and asked Joey to go in the hot tub with me.

The conversation was flowing, and I think one of his kinks is butt-biting. It was fun and flirtatious. And I was thinking, "Why not?" Hot guy, hot girl, there's chemistry, why not? I think you should do whatever makes you happy in the moment. And in that moment, he said, "Can I bite your butt?" And I said, "Yeah."

We developed relationships really fast. I used to watch reality TV and be like, "Come on, how can that person really like that person, or have these platonic relationships?" After being a part of this experience, I can say it happens. You can develop strong feelings for people and make all these lasting friendships, even with the producers, even with the camera people, even with makeup and glam.

I'm a very humble person, very authentic, and I don't think the whole thing has really hit me yet. But to get this experience, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I just went on there and embraced it. Going through a divorce was hard on everyone, and my son and I both have our separate lives. He was excited and fascinated, and very protective over me. I think ultimately, he's just happy as long as I'm happy.

I know it's a reality TV show, but we're still real people with real emotions. I'm a southern girl from a small town, but I have all this spice to me. I just want people to see that it's OK to be your authentic self.

All the societal norms of what we should find in love, or that we shouldn't be dating someone younger, or how a mom should be —  I kind of want to change that stereotype. The only validation we need is from us, and hopefully, people will see that on the show.

Read the original article on Business Insider