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Unexpected Encounter: Cuban Influencer's Surprising Match with a TikTok Star on a Dating App

Monday, September 21, 2026 by Alexander Flores

Cuban influencer Yily García, known on TikTok as @yilygarcia, recently shared a candid video detailing her experiences using a dating app. From setting up her profile to her surprising encounter with a young man she had previously noticed on social media, Yily relates her story with refreshing honesty.

“I joined a dating site, nothing wrong with that. I've been single for a year, alone, with nothing to hide. I felt lonely and wanted to give it a shot,” the content creator began, straightforward and unscripted.

Yily's decision stemmed from practical reasons. She rarely leaves her home, interacts minimally with her delivery person, and the few people she knows are either in relationships or do not pique her interest.

Her profile featured a clear photo of herself and included an unusual note: she asked potential matches to check her social media to discover her "different personalities" before messaging her.

Over the years, and through her solitary journey, Yily has become more discerning. With humor and self-awareness, she admits, "I know I don't have a stunning body or looks, because unfortunately, people judge by appearances first."

The story takes an interesting turn when she encounters a young man on the app who she had previously noticed on TikTok.

Although he liked her profile, he did not initiate contact. After waiting for two days, Yily decided to reach out: “Hey, I don't bite. I accepted the match to talk to you because I saw you on TikTok and liked you.”

They eventually exchanged WhatsApp numbers, but the connection did not flourish. The reason? The young man practices Santería, which caused Yily to lose interest. “I don't like anything related to Santería. To put it mildly, the whole lifestyle scares me because my dad is a Santero, and he has a room filled with 'kikis' in the backyard, and I steer clear of that,” she explained.

Her aversion isn't a critique of anyone's religion but rather a personal issue rooted in her upbringing: “I was taught as a child that those were demons that could harm you, so I grew up with that trauma.”

The video also serves as a subtle message to the young man, whom she neither tags nor mentions by name but wants to show who she is and what she does on social media.

Yily's emotional context includes a painful past: her husband was deported to Cuba in February 2026, following an immigration ordeal that involved time at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and several transfers over nearly seven months. This situation also left her without regular immigration status in the United States, something she disclosed in April 2026.

The video signifies a shift in her content style. Yily announces her departure from polished formats to embrace unfiltered authenticity: "From now on, there is no script, nothing pretty. I will speak my mind, as I am."

“A friend told me, you really are an influencer, but I don't feel that way. Maybe it's humility,” she concluded, inviting her community to decide what kind of content they want to see moving forward.

Understanding Yily García's Dating App Experience

Why did Yily García decide to use a dating app?

Yily García opted to use a dating app because she felt lonely and wanted to try meeting new people, as she rarely leaves her home and the people she knows are either in relationships or do not interest her romantically.

What caused Yily to lose interest in her match?

Yily lost interest in her match because he practices Santería, a religion she is uncomfortable with due to personal experiences and fears instilled during her childhood.

How has Yily García's content style changed?

Yily García has decided to shift from a polished content style to a more unfiltered and authentic approach, sharing her thoughts and experiences without a script.

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