In a surprising and joyous announcement back in 2022, the two beauty queens, former Miss Argentina Mariana Varela and former Miss Puerto Rico Fabiola Valentín revealed their marriage to the world via an Instagram post.
The announcement came as a surprise since the two beauty queens had kept their relationship private until this social post
The couple shared a heartfelt joint reel on their Instagram accounts, showcasing their love story through clips of their travels, beach outings, and a romantic kiss in front of a courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico, both dressed in elegant white outfits.
A highlight of the video was a scene with a room filled with gold and silver balloons spelling out “Marry me?” The couple exchanged rings and sealed the moment with a kiss in front of this celebratory display.
Their announcement video has garnered millions of views.
“After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors on a special day,” they captioned their post, also sharing the date October 28, 2022, which is believed to be their wedding day.
Varela, 26, and Valentín, 22, first crossed paths in March 2021 during the Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Thailand. Though neither won the title, both made it to the top 10, and a deep bond was formed.
Following the competition, Valentín posted photos of them together, writing, “One of the great gifts in this experience was your friendship. Walking this process with you was special and real. I miss you, my girl @marianajvarela.”
Social media erupted with congratulations for the newlyweds. Ghanaian singer and beauty queen Abena Akuaba commented, “Omg congratulations MGI brought together a beautiful union,” while Filipino beauty queen and TV personality Samantha Bernardo added, “Omg! Congratulations sisters! Lovelovelove!”
Even the official Miss Universe Instagram account celebrated the couple by featuring them in its Instagram story.
Both Argentina and Puerto Rico recognize same-sex marriage, with Argentina legalizing it in 2010 and Puerto Rico following in 2015. Argentina was notably the first country in Latin America to embrace marriage equality.
