Former Miss World Uruguay contestant Sherika De Armas passes away at 26

Sherika De Armas

Former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas from Uruguay passed away on October 13 at the age of 26. She was battling cervical cancer as per a report in the New York Post. Ms De Armas had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. She had represented her country at Miss World in 2015.

Confirming the news of her demise, Armas's brother Mayk' De Armas wrote on social media, ""Fly high, little sister. Always and forever,"

Miss Universe Uruguay 2022 Carla Romero also mourned the demise of Sherika and wrote that she was "too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life."

"I will always remember you, not only for all the support you gave me and how much you wanted to see me grow, but for your affection, your joy, the friends we shared and that remain with me today", Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay 2021, said while paying tribute.

The 26-year-old did not make it to the top 30 at the 2015 Miss World contest organised in China. However, she was "one of the only six 18-year-olds to compete" in the pageant.

In an interview with a local media back then, she had said. "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. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges."

Sherika De Armas launched er own make-up line and also sold hair care products known as Shey de Armas Studio. She was also dedicated to the Perez Scremini Foundation which treats children with cancer.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, as said by World Health Organisation (WHO). "In 2018, an estimated 570,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311,000 women died from the disease. Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for, and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases," they said on the website.