Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer known for her beauty and makeup content, was shockingly murdered during a TikTok livestream. The incident occurred in the city of Zapopan while she was at the beauty salon where she worked.
The Jalisco state prosecutor confirmed that the case is being investigated as a femicide, a term in Mexico used for gender-based killings of women. Her sudden and public death has highlighted the alarming levels of violence against women in the country and triggered widespread outrage both online and in the media.
Authorities Classify Marquez’s Killing As Femicide, Highlighting Systemic Gender Violence In Mexico.
Authorities have emphasized that the killing meets the criteria for femicide, which may include brutal violence, public exposure of the victim’s body, or a relationship with the perpetrator. Although no suspect has been named, officials have begun investigating the case following specific protocols for gender-based crimes.
These measures are intended to recognize the deeper societal issues surrounding such attacks and to ensure that the violence is not treated as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a broader pattern affecting women across Mexico.
Influencer Valeria Marquez Killed on Livestream, Exposing Mexico’s Worsening Femicide Crisis
The events leading up to Marquez’s murder were captured in a TikTok livestream that she was hosting. In the video, she is seen holding a stuffed toy and appears tense, stating, “they’re coming.” A voice calls out to her, and she responds, “Yes,” before muting the stream.
Moments later, the sound of gunshots was heard off-camera, and someone appeared to pick up the phone, briefly revealing their face before the livestream abruptly ended. These chilling final moments were witnessed by her followers and have since circulated widely, adding to the emotional impact of the tragedy.
Marquez’s Death Highlights Mexico’s Ongoing Femicide Crisis and Urgent Protection Needs
Earlier in the same livestream, Marquez mentioned a concerning incident involving someone who had attempted to deliver an “expensive gift” when she wasn’t at the salon. She expressed unease and said she didn’t plan to wait for the person to return.
This statement has raised questions about whether she was being targeted in advance and if the shooting was premeditated. Her concerns and the circumstances surrounding her death are being closely examined by investigators in an effort to understand any potential threats she may have been facing.
The murder of Valeria Marquez adds to the growing list of femicides in Mexico, a country grappling with severe gender-based violence. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico ranks among the top countries in the region for femicide, with 1.3 deaths per 100,000 women in 2023.
Jalisco, the state where Marquez was killed, is sixth in the nation for overall homicides, with over 900 recorded since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024. Her death has become a symbol of the urgent need for action to protect women and address systemic violence.
