A couple from Colorado have opened up about their accidental union as cousins.
Despite facing societal criticism, the couple has chosen maintain their marriage, and found unwavering support from their family.
Celina Quinones, 37, and her husband Joseph, 44, began their love story when they first crossed paths at a Halloween party.
"We were inseparable after that," Celina recalled and in a whirlwind romance, the couple decided to tie the knot just months after meeting.
Their lives took an unexpected turn, however, when Celina delved into her heritage and underwent a DNA test. The results left them in disbelief.
"We decided to do our DNA test, and that's when we found out. I was a little sick to my stomach. In my head, I thought we were supposed to get divorced," Celina revealed, recounting the moment they discovered their familial connection.
The DNA test confirmed that Celina and Joseph were third to fifth cousins.
However, instead of immediately seeking a divorce, Celina realized that keeping their family together was the priority.
She said: "Hey, for our children, for our household, we need to keep it together and stay together.
"It was a pivotal moment for us because you're not supposed to look at your cousin or be with your cousin and I didn't mean it but it happened that way."
Joseph added: "We've gone this far and it's til death do us part in my books so I wasn't gonna leave over something like that"
In a bid to be transparent about their unique circumstances, Celina decided to share their story on TikTok earlier this year.
Unfortunately, the couple faced an onslaught of negative comments, with trolls branding their relationship as "sick."
Undeterred, Celina addressed the critics, reading out a few of the hateful comments. "This is so disturbing, why would you marry your cousin? They look so much alike, how did they not know? I feel bad for the kids; hopefully, people don't bully them. I'd be embarrassed if I were those kids," she recited.
While the public may question their union, Celina and Joseph find solace in the unwavering acceptance they receive from their children and extended family.
Their daughter views their relationship as "kind of normal," while their eldest child admitted occasional discomfort but attested that their marriage faced "not one single problem."
Celina's father, Mark, stands firmly in support of their relationship. He said: "They're very good together, they complement each other, and they're our family."
In response to the negative comments, Joseph urged critics to consider the complexities of their situation before passing judgment.
He said: ""To the people who were giving us negative comments, it's easy to speak on the outside without knowing the whole inside story.
"We found out almost 11 years later, three kids later... It's just not something you break up and walk away from."
