A 17 year old beauty queen, who refers to herself as a "princess", and who married a 66-year-old former mayor when she was just 16, has hit back at her "haters" on Instagram.
Hissam Hussein Dehaini, 66, the ex-Mayor of Araucaria in Brazil, tied the knot with his teenage bride Kauane Rode a year ago this week.
Kauane, a high school student, came second in the Miss Araucaria contest in 2022, in the teen category for girls aged 15 to 17. However, it was her marriage to the politician that really catapulted her into the limelight.
The couple's unconventional relationship, while not illegal, has attracted a lot of attention and criticism over the past year. In response, Kauane took to Instagram on their first anniversary to share a screenshot of Google search results for her and her husband's names. Over the top of the numerous articles, she posed the question: "A year of wanting to know: Fans or haters?"
READ MORE: Prince Harry left 'infuriated' by King Charles' 'paying for Meghan' comment
Their marriage sparked controversy, according to the Daily Star, particularly after reports emerged that Dehaini had promoted Kauane's mother to a senior position the day after their wedding.
Marilene Rode, Kauane's mother, was appointed Secretary of Culture of Araucaria, having previously been a general secretary, according to reports.
Marilene's sister, Elizangela Rode, who also holds a position as a commissioner at City Hall, is part of this narrative. The Brazilian Civil Code states that "man and woman aged 16 can marry, requiring authorization from both parents, or their legal representatives, until they reach the age of civil majority".
Highlighting a broader issue, the advocacy group Girls not Brides reveals that over 2.2 million minors are wed in Brazil. Hora Brasilia commented on the young couple's marriage saying "the union of Kauane and Hissam has been seen as an example of true love and overcoming prejudices".