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Raquel Escalante, a Guatemalan pageant queen and TV host, died after sharing her journey with cervical cancer. She was 28.
The news was first announced by TV Aztec Guate, where Escalante worked as a host, in a Nov. 28 Instagram post remembering the late internet personality.
“Her charisma, her joy and that special light that always accompanied her made every moment by her side something unique and memorable,” read the tribute. “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.”
Escalante, who was named Miss Intercontinental Guatemala in 2021, maintained a following of over 87,000 on Instagram and 324,000 on TikTok, where she shared photos and videos from her life as a TV host.
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In August 2024, the beauty queen shared that she had been hospitalized for decreasing hemoglobin levels. In October, Escalante’s cousin opened a GoFundMe to raise money for her medical bills, revealing that the content creator had been diagnosed with cervical cancer in early 2024 and was still experiencing side effects from a surgery to remove the cancerous cells.
Raquel Escalante/Instagram
“We are reaching out to all kind-hearted people who wish to support her with her medical expenses, as Raquel is very ill,” read the translated GoFundMe description. “She has spent most of her time in the hospital since February and has had to pay a lot of money in hospitals. Her adoptive family has helped her, however, there are situations that are beyond our control.”
Over the last year, Escalante continued to update her followers about her medical condition, sharing news from her doctor’s appointments and various procedures she had undergone to manage the cancer.
In the comments of her final TikTok video — which she posted on May 8 — fans of the late star posted tributes after the news of her death.
“We will never forget you Raquelita, you will always live in our hearts 🤍🕊️” wrote one.
“Now shine in the sky, rest in your arms, your light does not go out, fall into our hearts you are an example of love 🥺” another shared.
Penned a third: “Rest in peace Raquelita 🥹❤️🩹💔🌹⚘️”
