Colombian Top Model Assassinated: A Nation in Shock
Colombia Faces Reckoning Over Femicide Crisis After Brutal Killing of Young Model
May 19, 2025
CÚCUTA, Colombia — The brutal murder of 22-year-old model and influencer María José Estupiñán has sent shockwaves across Colombia, reigniting fury over the country’s growing femicide crisis and what activists call a "systemic collapse" of protection for women.
On May 15, Estupiñán was shot dead at her residence in Cúcuta. Police say the attacker posed as a delivery man before executing her at the doorstep. Surveillance cameras captured the suspect fleeing the scene moments later.
The young woman, a university student with a rising online presence, had previously filed domestic abuse complaints against an ex-partner. Just a day before her death, a judge ordered the man to pay her compensation — a decision that may have provoked retaliation, according to investigators.
“She was vibrant and full of dreams, like so many women silenced by violence,” said Magda Victoria Acosta of the Colombian Judiciary’s Gender Commission. “This is not just a tragedy — it’s a failure of justice.”
A Crisis of Protection
Despite numerous legal complaints, Estupiñán received no effective state protection. Feminist organizations in Colombia are calling this a preventable crime, accusing the state of gross negligence.
“She followed every legal step — she reported the violence, submitted evidence, sought protection — but the system let her down,” said Alejandra Vera, director of Woman, Speak Out and Move It. “We are witnessing a femicide epidemic. One woman is murdered every 28 hours in Colombia.”
According to the Colombian Observatory of Femicides, 886 femicides were recorded in 2024 — the highest number in seven years. By March 2025, the toll had already reached 207 cases. Human rights groups warn that more than 70% of femicides remain unsolved.
Echoes Across Latin America
Estupiñán’s case has drawn comparisons to the killing of Mexican TikTok star Valeria Márquez, who was fatally shot while livestreaming at a salon on May 13. Both women were influencers, both were young, and both were victims of gender-based violence.
Keep Reading: Tragedy on TikTok – Mexican Beauty Influencer Valeria Márquez Shot Dead During Livestream
Calls for Justice
Women’s rights groups are planning marches in Cúcuta and Bogotá demanding accountability and urgent reforms. They’re calling for increased funding for shelters, better training for prosecutors, and strict enforcement of protection orders.
At María José’s funeral, a family member shared a heartfelt tribute: “Life for you was a beautiful journey, but much too short. Fly high, Majo.”
The nation mourns not only her loss but the countless others who remain unnamed — victims of a system that continues to fail them.