I run a ‘Daddy Dating Academy’ – women hate clingy guys & if your man picks a particular venue, he’s dating other people
WITH dating apps, the rules of flirting, hanging out, and finding relationships seem to be constantly changing.
But a TikTok star who professes to have “daddy energy” insists the basics of masculine and feminine dynamics are still at play — and his dating advice can help you find Mr. Right.
Niko Emanuilidis, a 30-year-old dating “guru,” as some call him, is popular on social media for his honest opinions about relationships from a male perspective.
The New York City resident initially focused on giving tricks to men to nab the girl of their dreams, but now he’s “spilling the secrets” to women through his “Daddy Academy.”
The same methods that helped him secure his current girlfriend.
“Being able to give this sort of insight took time and learning, through my journey, to get to a place where I feel like I could actually help people and speak to this accurately,” he told The U.S. Sun.
About a year ago, he started posting mostly fitness content directed towards men, with occasional male relationship advice thrown in.
“I probably only had like 2,000 followers, and then around October, I started thinking, ‘Alright, maybe I could change something up,'” he explained.
“How about I talk to men in a way that women would sort of cosign the messaging that I’m saying because, at the end of the day, that’s what you want.
“It takes two to tango.”
In October 2023, he made a viral TikTok video that gained him almost 30,000 followers overnight — most of whom were women.
After he realized that he also needed women’s go-ahead to reach his audience, “The Daddy Academy” took off.
“I always knew I had something here. Now, this is kind of proof and now it’s gonna keep rolling with it,” he said.
In that first viral video, he described in detail what “daddy energy” is.
“It all starts with working to be the best version of yourself,” Niko explained.
I would consider myself an attractive guy. I’ve worked to be the most attractive version of myself.
Niko Emanuilidis
“So working towards your passions, pursuing your dreams or goals, being about your physical fitness
He added that you don’t have to be a super bodybuilder, but must have a consistent workout regimen that makes you feel confident.
“I would consider myself an attractive guy. I’ve worked to be the most attractive version of myself,” Niko said.
LEVELLING UP
Niko wasn’t always “suave and smooth with the ladies” and had to “grow” in his ability to attract women.
“I’ve always been fascinated with dating man-to-woman relationships, ever since I started dating as a teen.”
He admitted that he wasn’t the most popular guy in high school but was charismatic, funny, and a musician, which helped land him his first girlfriend at the end of his senior year of high school.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole combination was kind of what makes me the success that I am,” he said.
The shift for him came in college when he started “really working out,” and developing his “daddy energy,” which he said is the “best place to be.”
MASCULINE ENERGY
Niko admitted that the comedic nature of the word “daddy” can be taken sexually, especially when you hear him say at the beginning of each video, “Welcome to the Daddy Academy.”
“It kinda snaps you into listening to what I’m about to say. It gives them a little laugh and then, obviously, they hear what I’m saying,” he explained.
“It’s good advice and they’re like, ‘S**t this guy’s legit.'”
Being about your purpose, making money, and being a protector, that’s the type of energy that I think is healthy, masculine, and that women truly do like.
Niko Emanuilidis
Niko said that there’s a deeper meaning behind why he used the word besides comedic effect and the “nice ring to it.”
Through social media and clickbait, a lot of toxic masculine messaging kind of gets worked in there that is confusing for most guys.
“The content that a lot of men watch like self-help stuff, they always say, ‘You want to be an alpha male. You don’t want to be a beta male,'” he explained.
“Being about your purpose, making money, and being a protector, that’s the type of energy that I think is healthy, masculine, and that women truly do like.”
When coupled with emotional intelligence, positivity, warmth, and welcoming energy, you’re in your daddy energy.
BE LIKE PEDRO
He described this type of person as someone everyone just gravitates towards and wants to be their friend.
“It’s just a true, healthy masculine mindset,” Niko said, using actor Pedro Pascal as a prime example.
“He’s not this hyper-macho, masculine guy, but he’s confident, he’s about his purpose.
“He has this great sense of humor. He doesn’t take life too seriously. Everyone loves them.”
If you’re wondering whether or not women can also be in their daddy energy, then the answer is both yes and no.
“It’s different. I think women and true feminine energy are very caring and nurturing,” the TikToker said.
“There are a lot of things that cross over between a healthy masculine man and a healthy, feminine woman and that sort of dynamic.”
It comes down to each relationship and how men and women show up for each other in different scenarios.
LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES
Niko hasn’t always been the best partner and admitted that he had his problems and faults in the past.
“I’ve had plenty of circumstances where I mess things up or maybe I came across as too needy and, missed out on women that I thought I had a chance with back in the day,” he said.
Now he is off the market and admitted that he put some of his trendy tips into action to snag his lucky lady.
“You kind of get to a point where you acknowledge the areas of healing and it kind of intersects with that most confident version of yourself,” he said.
“Once that happened, it sort of all clicked for me.
“That’s when I felt like I could attract the type of women that I want and that is the type of woman that I want to be dating, and it felt like very natural, and I’m in a relationship now.”
Not everyone has the same mentality as Niko about putting in the work, and he admitted that many men need a few lessons at The Daddy Academy.
BETTER SHAPE UP
When asked what “men are doing wrong,” he said there are two sides to it.
For example, they may be coming across as too needy and clingy.
“Every woman has had the experience where they go out with a guy and you like him, but then afterward he’s blowing you up,” he said.
“All of a sudden your your attraction levels start to go down because subconsciously it’s making you think this guy doesn’t have many options and it’s unattractive.”
What men are doing wrong in dating
- Coming across as too needy, too clingy
- Alpha male who prioritizes situationships
On the opposite end, it’s the “alpha male” and stereotypical “situationship” character who is just using women for sex and “revenge.”
“Those guys aren’t looking for that emotional connection. They’re kind of checking off women like boxes, like, ‘I got her,”’ he explained.
“They’re sort of looking at dating at a very surface level, a sexual transaction.”
A true romantic at heart, Niko added that the most fulfilling relationships are the ones where you have that emotional connection.
When you first start dating someone, Niko said that there are also several green flags to look out for.
Dating green flags
- Being upfront with what you want
- Practicing consistent communication
- Setting up weekly dates
- Progressing at a healthy pace after the first month
“The most simple thing is just looking at his consistency. You don’t know how a guy feels about you until you’ve seen him and seen how he behaves over a somewhat extended period,” he explained.
Slow and steady wins the race, according to Niko in many of his videos.
“You’re setting up those dates weekly, and progressing the relationship at an appropriate speed and building it up,” he added.
Don’t fall for lovebombing, which comes as hot too fast.
“You’re upfront with what you want. We treat women the right way. You’re pursuing at a healthy pace. You’re not blowing her up every day, but you’re consistent with communication,” he advised.
It’s not necessarily a sign that he’s not into you because men are visual creatures and fall in love with what they see, but it could be an indicator that he’s not serious about pursuing you long-term.
Just as soon as they fall in love with you, they can also fall out of love with you.
“Even if the relationship does not work out, by men following these guidelines, a woman should come out of it still saying, ‘Hey, it didn’t work out, but he was a really good guy,” Niko said.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
Although he offers tips for women, there are still many who disagree with his advice.
A divisive topic is over whether or not coffee dates are good dates, which Niko called “low-interest” and “noncommittal.”
“He’s trying to get you out and that’s not what you want,” he said.
“You want a guy who’s gonna be like, ‘No, we’re going out like we’re taking you out for no nice place or for dinner at this nice place.’
“A lot of women actually liked the idea of coffee dates, but to me, that’s kind of like a safety net that they’re using.
“I’m telling you that he is unsure about you if he’s taking you on a coffee date, or there are other women that he’s seeing.
“He’s just trying to see if he likes you a little bit to see if you’re worthy of going into the mix with these other girls.”
Niko said that he would block out the time and money to find a nice lounge and take her out for cocktails or dinner.
“If a guy met a woman who he was like, ‘This girl’s the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen,’ and he wants to impress her, he’s not going to impress her with a trip to Starbucks,” he added.
Niko knows that the Daddy Academy will look different a year from now, but he sees himself rolling with it for a while.
He plans to expand the idea into other media angles and teased a potential podcast.
“I’m going to take this as far as I can go. This has always sort of been my dream, to have a platform where I’m helping people, entertaining and it’s only going to transform from here,” he said.