Miss Universe Ecuador Semifinalist María Lorena Argüello Dies at 28

María Lorena Argüello, a beauty queen from Ecuador, has died at the age of 28. The news was confirmed by Ecuador’s National Beauty Pageant committee on Sunday.

Argüello was a semifinalist in last year’s Miss Universe Ecuador contest. She represented Quito, the capital city. The 2024 pageant was her first-ever competition.

Just weeks before the pageant, on June 30, 2024, Argüello graduated as a medical surgeon from the University of Las Americas.

No further details about her death have been shared. The pageant committee expressed their condolences on Instagram. They said, “We stand with respect and solidarity with her family and loved ones in this time of grief. Her memory will always be with us.”

Many friends and fellow contestants shared their sadness. María Topic, who won Miss Universe Ecuador this year, called Argüello “a beautiful soul.” She wrote on social media, “My heart mourns your passing, but I trust that God holds you in His arms.”

Nadia Mejía, former Miss California 2016, also praised Argüello’s kindness. She said María was “one of the kindest people” she had ever met. Nadia added, “She was always supporting others and lifting them up with her light. A true queen.”

María José Córdova, another contestant, said the pageant created a family for them all. She wrote, “Though it started as a contest, we built bonds that go beyond the crown. It pains us to see her go, but it comforts us to know she did what she loved—discovering herself and shining.”

She added, “Her passing reminds us to keep faith, love, and hope, and to fight for our dreams. May her example inspire us always.”