SPELLBINDING
Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere of France has dismissed rumors that she is a lesbian and in a romantic relationship with her female best friend.
“Camille is my best friend and I love my boyfriend Matthieu. I really love her, but I am not with her. She is not my girlfriend,” said Mittenaere on GMA News.
A day after she was crowned Miss Universe in Manila last Jan. 30, lesbian rumors swirled after netizens discovered photos of the French beauty queen getting intimate with pageant sister Camille Cerf.
Cerf, a businesswoman, represented France at the Miss Universe 2014 beauty pageant in Florida, USA. She placed in the Top 15.
Speculations also said that Mittenaere could be the first openly gay Miss Universe because of the photos.
The Daily Entertainment News, an entertainment website, has reported that Mittenaere is currently in a relationship with a hunky doctor identified as certain Matthieu Declercq.
Reports said that the couple has been very discrete about their relationship because it was stated in the rules of Miss France committee that the beauty queen is not allowed to appear with her boyfriend in public.
Last year, Declerq revealed in an interview that he was not afraid of not seeing much of his girl- friend.
He added that he is proud of her, the report added.
Declerq even flew to Manila to support her girlfriend at the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
Mittenaere, 24, is pursuing her degree in dental surgery.
Aside from dental school, Mittenaere has always been fond of extreme sports, travelling and cooking.
She also enjoys making others happy, especially when volunteering at Bienvenue-Tongasoa and Les Bonnes Fées.