Former Miss Universe Argentina and fellow beauty queen secretly wed


Former Miss Universe Argentina Mariana Valera and fellow beauty queen from Puerto Rico, Fabiola Valentín, revealed they had secretly tied the knot after keeping their relationship private for a long time.

Their intimate wedding ceremony took place last Friday, October 28 in San Juan, Puerto Rico where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2015.

Back in 2019, they both tried to join Miss Universe but while Mariana won her national title and went on to compete in the prestigious pageant in Atlanta, Georgia, Fabiola was not lucky enough to take home the Miss Universe Puerto Rico title as she only placed in the Top 3.

Their paths crossed a year later when their pageant journey brought them together in Miss Grand International 2020 which was held in Bangkok, Thailand where they both placed in the Top 10 and fell in love.

"Congratulations to both of you. MGIO always support “LOVE” without boundaries," Miss Grand International Organization posted about them on social media.

The Miss Universe Organization also congratulated the former queens in an Instagram story.

Meet the newlyweds:

Photos: Miss Universe, Mariana Varela / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Former Miss Earth USA Bea Millan-Windorski joins Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Image
Filipino-American Bea Millan-Windorski has recently been appointed as the official representative for the province of La Union at Miss Universe Philippines 2026. At just 24 years old, she is well-acquainted with the world of pageantry, having participated in Miss Earth USA 2024 in Orlando, Florida, where she clinched the title while representing Wisconsin. This achievement made her the first Filipino-American to secure a national title. As Miss Earth USA, she went on to compete in Miss Earth 2024 in the Philippines, where she impressively placed in the Top 4 out of 76 contestants, earning the title of Miss Earth Water. Bea's grandparents on her mother's side were Filipino immigrants from La Union, Philippines. Following her Miss Earth journey, she relocated to the country. In a recent social media post, she paid tribute to Filipino migrants, stating: "As someone whose family history is shaped by migration, I grew up honoring the courage, homesickness, and hard work of Fili...
Read more

Miss World Philippines 2026 is Asia Rose Simpson from Quezon City

Image
Asia Rose Simpson from Quezon City was crowned Miss World Philippines 2026 during the national final of the pageant held on Tuesday, February 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 18-year-old Filipino-American beauty also bagged the Best in Swimsuit, Best in Talent, and Beauty with a Purpose award. She succeeded Miss World 2025 Top 8 finalist and Miss World Asia Krishnah Gravidez from Baguio City. Anne De Mesa from Manila and Gabrielle Fuentes Galapia from Pampanga were named the first and second princesses, respectively. The rest of Top 10 were from Batangas, Nicole Kristine Lorzano, Davao Region, Jayvee Lyn Loreto, New York, Marizza Delgado, United Kingdom, Margarethe Elize Romano, Ifugao, Valerie West, Rizal, Lorraine Ojimba, and Sultan Kudarat, Olivia Grace Reilly. Completing the Top 15 were from Bukidnon, Gwen Marie Perion, Iligan, Christal Briseis Polancos, Naga, Zoe Sofia Gabon, Negros Island Region, Cindy Agnes Valencia, and Zamboanga City, Ansha Lichelle Jones. The...
Read more

Miss Universe Germany 2022 is Soraya Kohlmann

Image
Soraya Kohlmann was crowned Miss Universe Germany 2022 in a casting event held on Saturday, July 2 at Holiday Inn Hotel Düsseldorf-Neuss. The 24-year-old former Miss Germany (2017) and business owner who hails from Leipzig succeeds last year's titleholder Hannah Seifer. She will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2022. Mona Schafnitzl and Roxanna Saiedeh were the rest of the Top 3 finalists while Jelena Tontic and Maren Tschinkel completed the Top 5. "So proud and thankful to represent my country at the Miss Universe competition this year. I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true having the opportunity to raise my voice on such a huge platform," the new Miss Universe Germany shared on social media. Germany has yet to win its second Miss Universe title next to Marlene Schmidt (Miss Universe 1961). The country's last placement was Top 10 with Natascha Börger in 2002. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SORAYA ...
Read more

LIVE UPDATES: Miss Universe Thailand 2023 Final Competition Results

Image
The Miss Universe Thailand 2023 final competition is taking place tonight at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi. One of the 53 contestants vying for the coveted title will walk away with an opportunity to represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2023 this November in El Salvador. Hosted by DJ and media personality, the spectacular show is streaming live on the official Miss Universe and TPNG YouTube channels. A distinguished selection committee who will have the most difficult task of selecting the winner includes former titleholders Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Maria Poonlertlarp (Miss Universe 2017 Top 5 finalist) and  Miss Universe Thailand 2021  Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi. Who will be the next Miss Universe Thailand? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Thailand (@missuniverse.in.th) --- FINAL RESULTS --- TOP 20 14 MUT Uttaradit - Worawalan Phutklang 23 MUT Khon Kaen -...
Read more

Miss Earth USA 2026 is Gia Soleil Espinoza from Texas

Image
Gia Soleil Espinoza of Texas was crowned Miss Earth USA 2026 in a national competition held on Saturday, January 3 at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. The 20-year-old criminal justice major and third-generation business owner from El Paso succeeds last year's winner Haley Poe. She will represent the USA at Miss Earth 2026 later this year. April Rodriguez of Lone Star State was named Miss Earth USA Air, while Angel Marie Strong of West Coast, Alanna Lynch of West Virginia, and Autumn Fisher of Kentucky were announced Miss Earth USA Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. For the teen division, talented young model Mia Navarro, also from El Paso, clinched the title of Teen Miss Earth USA 2026. She was crowned by her predecessor Jordyn Campion. The new Miss Earth USA is also passionate advocate for animals. She co-founded Cars & Canines, a community-focused initiative that promotes adoption, sustainability, and meaningful connections. Having recently been accepted into the El Paso Po...
Read more

Miss Universe 2025: Meet the contestants

Image
Miss Universe 2025, the 74th Miss Universe competition is set to take place on Friday, November 21 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark will hand over her crown to her successor at the conclusion of the event. This year's much-talked-about edition marked Thailand's fourth time hosting the prestigious beauty pageant after 1992, 2005, and 2018. Following the withdrawal of several countries including Cameroon, Germany, Iceland, Kenya, Mongolia, and Montenegro, 122 contestants from various countries and territories are left competing for the coveted international beauty title. The competition has welcomed the debuts of Miss Universe Latina, Cape Verde, Mayotte, Palestine, and Rwanda as well as the return of Ghana, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Panama, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden. Bonaire and Rwanda, both 42 years old, are the oldest participants this year while 18-year-old Belarus and Ireland are the youngest. For the fir...
Read more

Russia's Varvara Yakovenko wins Miss Intercontinental 2025

Image
Varvara Yakovenko beat over 50 other contestants to win Miss Intercontinental 2025 on Thursday, January 29 at V Hotel Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt. The 18-year-old model became the fourth woman from Russia to hold the international beauty title. She succeeds last year's winner María Cepero from Puerto Rico. Lorena Suárez Lara from Cuba was named first runner-up while Vanessa Natcha Wenk of Thailand and Faidha Kassim Kivuyo of Tanzania were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 7 were Christina Vanhefflin of the Philippines (fourth runner-up), Kika Marques Das Neves of Ecuador (fifth runner-up), and  Brilliant Mukanda Maroko of Kenya (sixth runner-up). Completing the Top 12 finalists were the contestants from Cameroon, Colombia, USA, India, and Romania. Germany, Brazil, Spain, Macau, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Vietnam made the Top 23. Aside winning the crown, the new Miss Intercontinental also bagged the Mis...
Read more

Miss France 2026 is Hinaupoko Devèze from Tahiti

Image
Hinaupoko Devèze from Tahiti was crowned Miss France 2026 on Saturday, December 6 at the Zénith d'Amiens in Amiens, Hauts-de-France. The 23-year-old model bested 29 other contestants to win the prestigious national pageant. She succeeds Angélique Angarni-Filopon from Martinique. Juliette Collet of Nouvelle-Calédonie was named first runner-up while Victoire Dupuis of Normandie, Naomi Torrent of Guadeloupe, and Déborah Adelin-Chabal of Roussillon placed second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 12 were Lou Lambert  of Languedoc (fifth runner-up), Alice De Lima Guimaraes of Auvergne (sixth runner-up), Luna Maiolino of Côte d'Azur, Aloïce Sejotte of Limousin, Ynès Lallemand of Champagne-Ardenne, Mareva Michel of Île-de-France, and Emma Boivin of Picardie. The new Miss France was born in Papeete, on the island of Tahiti to a French father and Polynesian mother. She became the sixth representative from French Polynesia to become Miss France. Before winnin...
Read more

Miss Cosmo 2025 is Yolina Lindquist from the USA

Image
Miss Cosmo USA Yolina Lindquist beat 70 other contestants to win the Miss Cosmo 2025 pageant on Saturday, December 20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 22-year-old from Illinois was crowned by her predecessor Ketut Permata Juliastrid from Indonesia. She became the first ever American woman to hold the international beauty title. Chelsea Fernandez of the Philippines finished as runner-up while Gabriela Borges of Brazil, Myint Myat Moe of Myanmar, and Italy Mora of Panama were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 10 were the contestants from Colombia, Dayana Cárdenas, Cuba, Amys Nápoles Ochoa, Thailand, Chotnapa Kaewjarun, Vietnam, Hoang Phuong Linh Nguyen, and Zimbabwe, Lisa Sibanda. Beauties from Cambodia, Sreypii Phorn, Dominican Republic, Delisa Francisco, Ecuador, Alexandra Mina, Germany, Chloé Ëlyse, Greece, Ioanna Sarantopoulou, India, Vipra Mehta, Indonesia, Salma Ranggita, Laos, Christina Lasasimma, Mexico, Angela Yuriar, New Zealand, Katharina Weischede, and ...
Read more

From Graduation Gown to the Galaxy Crown: Progress With Purpose

Image
Graduating from Loughborough University with a Distinction in her MBA and receiving the Top Student Prize, Aishwarya Ashvinikumar (popularly known as Ash) is set to make her debut in the pageant industry as a finalist in the UK Galaxy Pageant 2025/26.  Building on the insights from her dissertation, which sparked her passion for advocating gender equality in the workplace, Ash is now focused on using the UK Galaxy platform to raise awareness of ongoing gender-based discrimination in professional environments. Under the guidance of Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson, Ash achieved a Distinction (84/100) for her research dissertation, in which she developed a practical framework to help organisations close gender-based gaps, empower women to overcome workplace barriers, and foster inclusive, productive cultures.  Ash feels immensely grateful and privileged to have collaborated with Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson from Loughborough University, a multidisciplinary scholar at the forefront of ...
Read more