Couple find love in what they dub ''unusual heterosexual relationship'' due to his extreme femininity and her masculine traits

Meet the couple who have found love in what they dub an ''unusual heterosexual relationship'' due to his extreme femininity and her masculine traits.

Maren Butler, 21, who identifies as a masculine woman, and James Carrington, 23, who considers himself a feminine man, have been together for a year-and-a-half.

James loves ''girly'' things, including stilettos, lash extensions, acrylic nails and crop tops - all accompanied by his self confessed ''feminine mannerisms''.

Maren embraces a muscly physique, shops in the men's section and chooses not to wear make-up.

For both Maren and James, this is their first heterosexual relationship as they previously both dated the same sex.

The couple does not follow any stereotypical gender roles but instead chooses to mix roles as they see fit - Maren likes to open doors for James and he will hold onto her arm when they are walking out in public.

James, an events manager, said: "We don't like to conform to any kind of norms not because we are looking to be different but we just do what feels most natural to us.

"Maren does most of the cooking - which is stereotypically a female quality - but it's just because she's the better chef.

"Even though I identified as gay before I met Maren, I wasn't seeking a romantic relationship with men.

"A long time before I met Maren, I had one boyfriend but we only lasted a couple of months as it didn't feel right.

"When I got to know Maren there was the click and that's how I knew this was special."

Maren, a student, reached out to James on TikTok in February 2021, after finding videos of him online - and found his confidence "mesmerising".

The videos, which she first saw on TikTok, showed James speaking about his experience being a "fem-man".

After chatting for a few weeks they discovered a deep connection and were both strongly sexually attracted to the other.

Soon after, the pair exchanged numbers and began texting and calling every day, discovering that they had lots in common, including their love for R&B music and a similar sense of humour.

Maren, who studies Philosophy and Public Health at Tulane University, Louisiana, New Orleans, US, knew that she had to meet James in person so after only a month of talking.

In March 2021 she took the 800-mile journey to meet him.

She said: "We'd talked about meeting up and I had a couple of days off school so I decided that it was the perfect time to meet.

"It took me over 10 hours but it was so worth it.

"When I arrived it was fairly late at night but it was amazing to see each other in person for the first time.

"James was just how he was over the phone; funny, intelligent and confident."

Even though the couple only had 48 hours together, they made the most of it and went out for their first meal and James introduced Maren to some of his friends.

The loved-up duo have now been together for a year and a half and are enjoying ''breaking all the gender and relationship stereotypes'' with their unique love story.