Sherika De Armas, a former Miss World contestant who represented Uruguay in 2015, passed away at the age of 26 after battling cervical cancer. She had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for over a year before her unfortunate demise on October 13.
In the Miss World competition of 2015, Armas stood out as one of only six 18-year-olds who participated. Despite her determination and enthusiasm, she did not secure a place in the top 30. During an interview with a local media outlet at that time, Armas expressed her lifelong dream, saying, “I’ve always aspired to pursue a career in modeling, whether it’s as a beauty model, working in advertising, or strutting down the catwalk.”
She added, “I like everything related to fashion, and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl’s dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss Universe. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges,” as quoted by the New York Post.
Tributes have poured in from her friends and family on social media. Her brother Mayk’ De Armas said, “Fly high, little sister. Always and forever.” Miss Uruguay 2021, Lola de los Santos, stated, “I will always remember you, not only for all the support you gave me and how much you wanted to see me grow, but for your affection, your joy, the friends we shared and that remain with me today.”
Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is one of the most common types of cancer affecting the female reproductive system and is typically caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Fortunately, most cases of cervical cancer are preventable and can be detected early through regular screening.
