Guatemalan pageant queen Raquel Escalante has died after a battle with cervical cancer. She was 28.
“Her charisma, her joy and that special light that always accompanied her made every moment by her side something unique and memorable,” TV Aztec Guate wrote via Instagram on November 28. “Today we bid farewell to a colleague and friend who left a huge imprint on our hearts. Her smile, her energy and her passion for communicating will continue to inspire us every day.”
The statement concluded, “We accompany his family and loved ones with love at this very difficult time.✨ Thank you, Raquel, for giving us your sparkle. You will always be part of our family chilerísima.”
Users took to the comments section to share their condolences.
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“Always with an unparalleled light! ✨,” one user wrote, while another added, “May God receive you in His arms, now to enjoy the love of all loves 🙏🕊️🤍. My prayers are with those who grieve your passing 🤍.” A third wrote, “I got to know her; she was a ray of light and a beautiful soul.”
Escalante, who amassed more than 87,000 followers on Instagram, was named Miss Intercontinental Guatemala in 2021. She also worked as a TV host on TV Aztec Guate. In 2024, Escalante shared that she had been hospitalized for decreasing hemoglobin levels and later shared that her cancer was in remission.
“Today I want to open my heart and share a news that, although difficult, I face it with the same courage that has always accompanied me. As many of you know I was diagnosed with cancer a while ago and after a tough battle I had managed to go into remission. However, today I have to say that the fight is not over, because cancer has come back into my life,” Escalante wrote via Instagram at the time, in a message translated to English.
The caption continued, “I’m not going to lie to you, the road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m ready to face each challenge with the same determination as before. I’m grateful for the love and support I’ve received so far, and I know that counting on you will give me the extra strength I need to push forward.”
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Escalante noted that she would be “sharing this process in any way I can,” hoping to “create a community of hope, resilience, and faith.”
“None of us are struggling alone, and if my experience can help others, then it’s worth sharing. Thank you for being with me. Together, we move forward,” she concluded. “I love them all so much.”
Escalante’s loved ones went on to create a GoFundMe to raise money for the late pageant queen, explaining that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2024.
“In February of this year, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and in an attempt to preserve her fertility — because she has always dreamed of the family she couldn’t have — she underwent surgery to remove all the cancerous cells,” the GoFundMe description read.
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The statement continued, “However, this surgery caused countless side effects, leaving her with kidney damage, gastrointestinal problems, damage to the main nerves in her spine, and requiring blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and other complications. In addition, she suffers unbearable pain that prevents Raquel from having a normal quality of life.”
The GoFundMe shared that Escalante was “very ill,” and they were reaching out to “kind-hearted people who wish to support her with her medical expenses.”
“She has spent most of her time in the hospital since February and has had to pay a lot of money in hospitals,” the description read. “Her adoptive family has helped her, however, there are situations that are beyond our control. We ask for your collaboration; any help is welcome and greatly appreciated in these difficult times.”