The national pageant committee of Ecuador confirmed the contestant’s death on Sunday (1st). María Lorena Argüello was honored by friends and celebrities from the fashion world.
The cause of death was not disclosed. “We express our heartfelt sympathy with respect and empathy to her family and loved ones during this time of mourning,” said the National Beauty Pageant of Ecuador in an Instagram post. “Her memory will always be with us.”
María Lorena Argüello represented Quito, the capital of Ecuador, in the 2024 pageant, her first participation in a beauty contest.
In June of the same year, she earned her medical surgery degree from Universidad de Las Américas, shortly before being eliminated in the semifinals of the contest.
María Topic, Miss Universe Ecuador and friend of Argüello, was shocked by the news of her colleague’s death.
“Today the sky gained a beautiful soul. My heart cries for her departure, but I trust that God holds her in His arms,” she lamented in a post.
María José Córdova competed with the 28-year-old to represent Ecuador in the Miss Universe pageant.
“At first, it seemed like just a contest, but it ended up becoming a family. Although we started in 2024, we remain united because we all created bonds that go beyond the crown,” Córdova wrote.
“Today, it hurts to see her go, but it comforts us to know she did what she loved: discover herself and shine,” she mourned.
+See more photos of María Lorena Argüello
Photos: Instagram @lorearguello97. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
