Sherika De Armas, a former Miss World contestant who represented Uruguay in the 2015 competition, passed away at the age of 26 after bravely facing a two-year struggle with cervical cancer. Local media reports confirmed her passing last week.
“Fly high, little sister. Always and forever,” the beauty queen’s brother, Mayk De Armas, said in an emotional video on his Instagram Stories.
Meanwhile, Anto Ciavaglia, a friend of De Armas wrote, “I remember you with that beautiful glow that you always transmitted.”
In 2021, the former Miss Uruguay received a diagnosis of uterine cancer and subsequently underwent multiple treatments.
As per reports, the League Against Cancer highlights that although the typical age of cervical cancer diagnosis is around 50 years old, approximately 20 percent of cases are detected after the age of 65. Furthermore, the early stages of cervical cancer often manifest without noticeable symptoms.
According to the National Cancer Institute of Spain, cervical cancer is preventable through routine screening and the administration of the HPV vaccine. Furthermore, it is considered curable when detected in its early stages.
Beyond her presence on the runway, De Armas was known to dedicate her time to the childhood cancer organization Pérez Scremini Foundation. Additionally, she operated the Shey De Armas Beauty Studio, where she offered a range of makeup, personal care, and hair products.
In 2015, the beauty queen told NetUruguay, “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,” she added. “I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges.”
Although De Armas didn't secure a spot in the top 30 during the 2015 Miss World contest held in Sanya, China, reports indicate that she was among a select group of just six contestants who were 18 years old at the time.
