A couple who are first cousins have spoken about their controversial relationship, which they say began when they looked alike as children. Michael Lee and Angela Peang, both 44, from Utah, risked prison to marry because cousin marriage is illegal in their home state.
The pair, who have compared themselves to Romeo and Juliet, say they felt a connection from a young age. When Angela was seven, they shared a kiss in a cupboard, but were caught by Michael's brother. Their families tried to keep them apart, but they remained close.
After both married other people and later divorced, they reconnected on Facebook in 2018. They began a romantic relationship in January 2019, and decided to marry. However, first-cousin marriage is a crime in Utah, punishable by up to five years in prison. To avoid this, they travelled to Colorado, where it is legal, to tie the knot in 2019.
Angela said: 'Michael was shaking with nerves and I was sweating. We ended up kissing passionately for three hours.' The couple now live together in Utah and are calling for the law to be changed.
