IN a surprise to many – though not all, especially their Instagram followers – Miss Argentina Mariana Varela and Miss Puerto Rico Fabiola Valentin announced their nuptials via Instagram reel, after keeping it on the down low for the last two years.
Initially competitors during the 2020 Miss Grand International beauty pageant, Mariana, 26, and Fabiola, 22, became lovers.
According to the Instagram post, the two beauty queens kept their relationship a secret for two years, which means they started their courtship while competing against one another.
The announcement itself was via a 30-second clip that showed them travelling and being very friendly with one another while on vacation; the video then cuts to a clip of red balloons, rose petals with balloons reading 'marry me' in their apartment, before a clip of them kissing outside of the Marriage Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Over the last couple years, the couple had teased fans with pictures of them together, while telling the world they were just 'friends'.
How it started
Mariana and Fabiola's love story began at the 2020 Miss Grand International, representing their respective countries (Puerto Rico is a US Territory).
From Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariana – who now has 251,000 followers on Instagram – has your typical model Instagram, showing off revealing outfits in exotic holiday locations around the world.
She’s a veteran of multiple beauty pageants and was even named Miss Universe Argentina in 2019 and Miss Grand Argentina the year after.
At the 2020 Miss Grand International competition, she was placed in the top ten along with Fabiola.
Fabiola, for her part, was named Miss Grand Puerto Rico in 2020.
Despite not winning the contest, they competed together in the 'preliminary competition' – where contestants show off their walks in evening dresses and swimsuits.
When the two ended up in the top ten, they allegedly fell in love during the 'final show', which had contestants showcasing their unique skills, performing a dance, giving a speech and even participating in 'close interview sessions' with the President of Miss Grand International asking about their personality and opinions.
Keeping a secret
Since the Miss Grand International pageant ended, the two have frequently posted on each other’s social media, telling anyone and everyone they were just 'friends'.
Their first post together came in April of 2021, showing the two models in each other's arms in the water and walking hand-in-hand in Thailand.
Fabiola was the first to post about the pair, captioning the flicks of them cozied up in the water, 'One of the great gifts in this experience was your friendship, walking this process with you was a special and real one. Miss you, my girl.'
In August 2021, Fabiola congratulated her now-wife on her birthday, claiming she hoped to hold onto their 'friendship forever.'
Despite keeping their relationship private, their posts together continued to become more and more suggestive, hinting to some watchers that something was taking place.
A few months after the birthday post, Fabiola posted another picture on her Instagram.
The post led some fans to question whether their relationship was more than something platonic.
A month later, Fabiola reposted the same set of pictures, this time ending her caption by saying, 'I love you.'
In December of 2021, Mariana took a trip to Fabiola's hometown in Puerto Rico, visiting Fabiola and her now in-laws.
In March, the pair posted another set of pictures, this time out and about, visibly in love with each other.
The two kept fans guessing until a few days ago, when they finally confirmed their relationship.
The big reveal
Then a few days ago, Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico confirmed their relationship and marriage in a joint Instagram reel shared to their combined 245,000 followers.
Stunned by the positive responses to their marriage announcement, Mariana wrote on her Instagram Story: 'Thanks for all the love! We are very happy and blessed.
'I wish you that the love you are giving us is multiplied! Endless thanks.'
Argentina legalised same-sex marriage in 2010, while Puerto Rico made the same move in 2015. – The Vibes, November 4, 2022
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