Influencers Who Went Viral for 19-Year Age Gap Marriage Are Expecting Their First Baby Together

Influencers Emily Stomatuk and Michael Justin are celebrating a major milestone!

On Sept. 22, the married couple shared the exciting news on Instagram, revealing that Stomatuk is pregnant with their first child. Accompanying a set of sunset maternity photos, they captioned the post: “making a best friend with my best friend 👼🏼🤍.”

The duo, who together boast over 2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, are known for their 19-year age gap and their 2023 wedding, which followed several years of dating.

“It was on our bingo card but we weren’t sure if it was going to happen or not,” Justin said in a video shared after the announcement. “Emily is pregnant for those of you who haven’t heard. We’re so excited.”

Stomatuk added, “It was a hard secret to keep there for a while. I just couldn’t really post anything because, one, I felt like crap during the first trimester, so I’m happy that’s over. And then, two, it’s hard to just post and it not be truthful — it didn’t feel authentic.”

Following the announcement, the couple celebrated with a trip to Wyoming, sharing photos and videos of campfire fun, cornhole, and horseback riding. Justin wrote in an Instagram caption, “Celebrating our baby announcement with our friends in Wyoming, feeling more grateful than I ever have.”

Last month, Stomatuk and Justin spoke with PEOPLE about their unconventional love story, discussing their families’ reactions to their age difference, the online criticism they’ve faced, and the community of age-gap couples they’ve connected with.

The couple first met at a yoga class in Stomatuk’s hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona, where Justin asked her out. Initially, she “politely swerved.”

“I was 23 and he had white hair,” Stomatuk told PEOPLE. “I was calling my mom like, ‘This 50-year-old is asking me out. What’s going on?’ ”

However, missing the attention he gave her, she eventually agreed to an impromptu dog walk with him. Three hours of conversation later, their bond was sealed. Though Justin had planned to move to Los Angeles for modeling while Stomatuk remained in nursing school, the pandemic led them to move in together, strengthening their connection.

Sharing the relationship with their parents had mixed reactions. Justin’s parents were supportive, saying they had “seen everything at this point with my dating,” he laughed. Stomatuk’s father, however, was initially skeptical.

“When she first told her dad, she told PEOPLE, ‘He was like, “I’m disappointed in you. I don’t approve of this. How could you be with this guy?” ’ ” But after meeting Justin, her dad quickly warmed up.

“Her dad is a Marine — there is some scariness to the thought of meeting him,” Justin said. “But I fixed that up by walking to the table with two shots of tequila in my hand.”

Going public on social media has brought a mix of reactions, from criticism over their age gap to staunch support.

“We kind of fed into it a little bit because we just knew that those videos performed well,” Stomatuk admitted. Over time, Justin said, they’ve become accustomed to the online scrutiny.

“I think as we’ve lived here, people have gotten used to the idea that age really is just a number,” Stomatuk said.

“There is no recipe for what works,” Justin added. “Who gives a s—. It works out if you’re compatible, and we’re compatible now.”