In 2021, Raquel Escalante, was crowned Miss Intercontinental Guatemala. The pageant queen went on to become a TV host where she worked at TV Aztec Guate. PEOPLE reports that she also had a huge following on social media, with 87,000 followers on Instagram and 324,000 on TikTok, where she would share photos and videos about her life as a TV host.
Sadly, Escalante was diagnosed with cervical cancer. According to a GoFundMe created by her cousin, Mishel Argueta, in October 2024, Escalante had surgery in February 2024 to remove the cancerous cells. But there were many side effects.
Argueta explained, “In February of this year, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and in an attempt to preserve her fertility—because she has always dreamed of the family she couldn’t have—she underwent surgery to remove all the cancerous cells. However, this surgery caused countless side effects, leaving her with kidney damage, gastrointestinal problems, damage to the main nerves in her spine, and requiring blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and other complications. In addition, she suffers unbearable pain that prevents Raquel from having a normal quality of life.”
Argueta described Escalante as “very ill.” The goal of the fundraiser was to help pay for her hospital bills.
Sadly, now the news is even more grim. Escalante has died. She was only 28 years old. The news was first shared by TV Aztec Guate on Instagram where the company wrote, “Today we bid farewell to a colleague and friend who left a huge imprint on our hearts. Her smile, her energy and her passion for communicating will continue to inspire us every day.”
