TikTok beauty influencer Valeria Marquez shot dead during livestream in Mexico
Valeria Marquez, a rising social media star and beauty influencer, was shot and killed during a livestream from her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, in a brutal incident authorities are investigating as a suspected femicide.
'Valeria Marquez.'
Courtesy of Valeria Marquez
Courtesy of Valeria Marquez
Courtesy of Valeria Marquez
Courtesy of Valeria Marquez
Courtesy of Valeria Marquez
The 23-year-old was interacting with her TikTok audience when an unidentified man arrived to deliver a small parcel. Marquez joyfully unwrapped what appeared to be a stuffed toy, calling it a "little piglet" and laughing with her viewers. Moments later, gunfire erupted, and Marquez collapsed forward, blood pooling on the desk as the livestream continued broadcasting. The stream ended only when another individual picked up the phone, briefly revealing their face.
According to the Jalisco Attorney General’s Office, the killing is being treated as a potential femicide—a gender-based crime that remains a persistent and deeply rooted problem in Mexico. Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive, and no arrests have been announced.
Marquez had amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram and was part of a growing wave of young Mexican influencers blending beauty content with personal narratives. Her murder has reignited national outrage over violence against women in Mexico, a country where femicide rates remain among the highest in Latin America.
The incident follows the recent murder of a female mayoral candidate in Veracruz, who was also killed during a livestream, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence targeting women in both public and private spheres.
In 2023, Mexico recorded 847 femicide cases, with 162 more reported in the first quarter of 2024, according to government data. Human Rights Watch and other advocacy organizations have repeatedly criticized the country’s inadequate response to such crimes, citing low prosecution rates and insufficient protection mechanisms for women.
“In 2022, around 4,000 women were killed in Mexico, amounting to 12% of all homicides. Yet only 67% of cases lead to a verdict,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch.
As Marquez’s fans and loved ones mourn her loss, her death serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform and stronger protections for women in Mexico.
