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Defence Minister Peter MacKay has announced his marriage to a former beauty queen who was born in Iran and later represented Canada at a Miss World pageant.

"I am overjoyed to announce Nazanin Afshin-Jam and I married at a private ceremony surrounded by family and loved ones today," MacKay wrote in a posting Wednesday on his constituency website.

"Since coming into my life many of you have met Nazanin on her many visits to Nova Scotia. She is the most important person in my life and over the coming months, Nazanin and I look forward to spending more time at home in Central Nova and sharing our happiness with all of you."

The couple reportedly tied the knot at a private ceremony in Mexico.

Afshin-Jam, who fled Iran with her family as a young child, was crowned first runner-up at the 2003 Miss World pageant, and has since been known in Vancouver as a vocal campaigner for human rights issues, having co-founded the organization Stop Child Executions.

She speaks fluent English, French and Persian.

Afshin-Jam has also had bit parts in television and film, including roles in the Cold Squad TV series and a small credit in the movie sequel Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed in 2004.