MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem marries Saturday.

Chilean television star Cecilia Bolocco, a former 1987 Miss Universe, and former Argentine president Carlos Menem will be marrying “next Saturday” according to Veronica Bolocco, the bride's sister.

Chilean press reported the news was leaked by Veronica following the celebration of Cecilia Bolocco's 36th birthday in her parents home in Santiago, last Saturday 19th, , where the future husband was also present.

The picture of the couple smiling just after the party was published in Santiago's tabloids, but Cecilia's brother and manager, Juan Pablo Bolocco, as well as her parents preferred not to comment the news.

When the press asked Mr. Menem what birthday present he had given to his future wife, smiling he said, "all my love", adding that "our marriage will be in May". Celicia's sister anticipated the marriage will take place in Anillaco, La Rioja, where Mr. Menem was born and started his political career.

The marriage press announcements in Santiago followed a week of dreadful publicity for the future bride when she appeared in the front page of Argentine women's magazines covered in a fur with the Argentine flag colors, leaving one of her shoulders naked.

This sparked immediate reactions in Buenos Aires condemning Ms. Boloccos' "lack of respect and dignity" for the Argentine flag, while others complained she was dressing and using hair styles to resemble Madona's replay of Evita Peron. Argentine press speculated about the money she's collecting for all the exposure, her political ambitions and the fine letter in the Menem-Bolocco contract.

Ms. Bolocco publicly apologized to Argentine public opinion, but reactions were also strong in Chile where she was accused of "traitor" by the yellow press. The new couple will be moving to a 2,5 million US dollars mansion in Buenos Aires most posh area where the rich and famous live.

Investigative reporters in Buenos Aires estimate Ms. Bolocco, managed by her brother Juan Pablo, made almost a million US dollars in the last twelve months with press and television interviews, plus becoming the exclusive model for Chile's main general store Falabella.