Miss Spain becomes first openly lesbian national beauty queen

Patricia Yurena, who was crowned Miss Spain in 2008 and again in 2013, reveals she is in a lesbian relationship by posting Instagram photo of her and her lover in bed

The photograph showed Miss Spain and her girlfriend, Vanesa Cortes, a singer and DJ on the Spanish House circuit, lying together on a bed with the caption "Romeo and Juliet"

By Fiona Govan, Madrid

3:10PM BST 22 Aug 2014

Spain's national beauty queen winner has revealed that she is in a lesbian relationship, posting a photograph of her and her lover in bed on the social media website Instagram.

Patricia Yurena, who was crowned Miss Spain in 2008 and again in 2013 and came runner up in last year's Miss Universe competition, is the first openly homosexual national winner.

"I don't regret what I did and I did it because I am happy about what's going on in my life," said the 24-year old from Tenerife.

The photograph showed Miss Spain and her girlfriend, Vanesa Cortes, a singer and DJ on the Spanish House circuit, lying together on a bed with the caption "Romeo and Juliet".

Her decision to go public about her sexuality won her widespread support across social media sites.

"Thanks to everyone for their comments," wrote Miss Yurena on her twitter account.

^{Patricia Yurena (Getty)}
"I published the picture spontaneously and in an impulsive manner," she added.
In 2012, for the first time two openly gay beauty queens competed for the Miss California USA crown but both lost out on the title.
The last Miss Universe pageant, held in November 2013 in Moscow, provoked a storm of controversy after it was boycotted by its gay TV host because of Russia's anti-homosexual laws.
Andy Cohen pulled out of hosting the show and tens of thousands called for the competition to be relocated in light of the "anti-gay propaganda" passed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
In 2012, the Miss Universe Organisation, owned by Donald Trump, announced it would allow transgender women to compete.