This stunning beauty queen has tied the knot with a married Philippine politician over twice her age after he decided to make an honest woman of her by marrying her in addition to his existing four wives after they were accused of having an affair.
Beauty queen Sharifa Akeel, 24, who was crowned Miss Asia Pacific International in 2018, married Esmael Mangudadatu, 53, at the AL-Nor Hotel and Convention Centre in the city of Cotabato in the southern Philippine autonomous region of Bangsamoro, officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), on 25th August.
The couple said in the wedding invitation that there would be a limited number of guests invited to the bash in the Muslim-majority region due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rumours of the couple’s relationship hit the headlines in the Philippines because the politician, representative of Maguindanao’s 2nd district since 2019, is already married.
One of his wives, Mylene Mangudadatu, has reportedly slammed the marriage and called her husband a “womaniser” in one furious Facebook post after news of the fling broke.
She also appeared on a talk show for TV5 to discuss the situation, commenting: “Under Islamic law, a man may marry up to four wives, but he had already ‘filled up his slots’.
“A husband must also ask permission from his wives before marrying another woman.”
However, a post on Akeel’s Instagram page, where she boasts nearly 100,000 followers, on 26th August says: “The road that led me to you was not easy. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, no matter how much others wanted to fight it, fate wanted us to be together.
“When I realised and then accepted that, love and happiness filled my life, and I realised that YOU, who have been there for the past six years, were all that I was missing.
“I am excited to take on this new adventure, this new phase in my life, because I will be going on it with you, Husband.”
Instagram user ‘Thejasonabalos’ commented: “Congratulations @sharifaakeel and cong Toto 🙂 Best wishes!”
Netizen ‘Gazinii’ said: “All the best, Queen!”
‘Thiathomalla’ wrote: “Congratulations, Sharifa!”