Celina and Joseph Quinones, a seemingly happy couple married over a decade, were left reeling after a DNA test revealed an unsettling truth: they’re cousins. The couple, who share 3 children, took a 23andMe DNA test to trace their ancestry but found themselves questioning the future of their relationship after the shocking discovery. The revelation left Celina grappling with whether their marriage should continue, as she pondered: “Are we supposed to be together?” The couple, who had a whirlwind romance before marrying just 4 months after meeting, had no idea they were related. Despite both families attending the wedding, no one made the connection. Celina even remarked that both her grandmother and Joseph’s grandmother had bonded at the wedding, but nothing clicked at the time. Despite the revelation, Celina and Joseph chose to stay together. Although there’s a genetic risk of cousins having children with serious birth defects, Celina pointed out that all 3 of their children are healthy, which was part of their reason for the couple’s decision to remain married. Celina now says she feels liberated after going public, stating, “It is what it is. If others can love no matter what, why can’t I love my cousin by accident?” Their discovery has also sparked the couple’s desire to help others avoid such surprises. They launched a dating platform called “Before We Be,” aimed at preventing individuals from unknowingly entering into relationships with their relatives.
