Former Miss World Contestant Sherika De Armas Dies At 26

Former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas, who represented Uruguay in the Miss World competition in 2015, passed away on October 13 at the age of 26 after her battle with cervical cancer, as reported by the New York Post. Ms. De Armas had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Her death deeply impacted Uruguay and the global community. "Fly high, little sister. Always and forever," her brother, Mayk' De Armas, expressed on social media. Carla Romero, Miss Universe Uruguay 2022, mourned the loss, describing Ms. De Armas as "too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life."

Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay 2021, paid tribute, saying, "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."

During the 2015 Miss World contest held in China, the 26-year-old did not make it to the top 30, though she was noted as "one of the only six 18-year-olds to compete" in the pageant. In an interview with NetUruguay at that time, she shared her dreams, stating, "I always wanted to be a model, whether a beauty model, an advertising model, or a catwalk model. 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."

Sherika De Armas also launched her makeup line and sold products related to hair and personal care under the name Shey de Armas Studio. In addition to her modeling career, she dedicated her time to the Perez Scremini Foundation, an organization that provides treatment to children with cancer.

Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern, as indicated by the World Health Organization. In 2018, an estimated 570,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide, with about 311,000 women succumbing to the disease. The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of effective primary prevention through HPV vaccination and secondary prevention through screening for and treating precancerous lesions, which can prevent most cervical cancer cases.