2025-05-14T17:45:00Z

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A young Mexican social media influencer, Valeria Márquez, who carved a niche for herself with her beauty and makeup tutorials, was shockingly shot to death while live streaming on TikTok. This tragic incident occurred in a beauty salon located in the city of Zapopan, Mexico, sending shockwaves throughout a nation grappling with rampant gender-based violence.

The 23-year-old influencer's death was promptly classified as a femicide by the Jalisco state prosecutor's office. Femicide, defined as the killing of a woman or girl specifically because of her gender, often involves heinous acts of violence, sexual abuse, and sometimes, a connection between the victim and the perpetrator. In many cases, the victims are later discovered in degrading conditions, further reflecting the severe social issues at play.

On Tuesday afternoon, during what appeared to be a routine live stream, Márquez was seen seated at a table, holding a stuffed toy. As she engaged with her audience, she mysteriously stated, “They’re coming,” moments before a voice off-screen called out, “Hey, Vale?” After a brief exchange, Márquez muted the stream, and mere seconds later, she was shot. Eyewitness accounts suggest that someone picked up her phone right after the incident, with a face momentarily visible on the stream before it abruptly ended.

Prior to the shocking turn of events, Márquez had mentioned that an individual had visited the salon in her absence, bringing what she described as an “expensive gift” for her. Concerned about this unexpected visitor, she expressed her decision not to wait for the person to return. This eerie foreshadowing adds a layer of intrigue and fear to the circumstances surrounding her death.

Valeria Márquez had amassed a significant following, nearing 200,000 subscribers across popular platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Her vibrant online presence showcased her passion for beauty, making her a relatable figure for many young women in Mexico and beyond. However, her life was tragically cut short, highlighting the stark reality that many women in Mexico face.

According to the latest statistics from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico ranks among the highest countries for femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean, tied with Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. The data reveals that there are approximately 1.3 femicides for every 100,000 women in the country in 2023.

In the Jalisco region, where the incident took place, the state ranks sixth out of Mexico's 32 states, including the capital, Mexico City, for homicides. Since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, there have been a staggering 906 recorded homicides in Jalisco, according to the data consultancy TResearch. This alarming trend underscores the pressing need for effective measures to combat gender-based violence and protect vulnerable individuals in society.