Tragic Loss of Mexican Influencer Valeria Márquez: Shot Dead During TikTok Livestream
ZAPOPAN, JALISCO — The vibrant life of 23-year-old Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was cut short in a horrific act of violence on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, when she was fatally shot during a TikTok livestream at her beauty salon, Blossom the Beauty Lounge, in Zapopan, Jalisco. The incident, captured live in front of her nearly 200,000 followers, has sent shockwaves through Mexico and beyond, reigniting urgent discussions about femicide and gender-based violence in the country.
According to authorities, the attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. at the salon located in the Santa María shopping plaza. Márquez, a beloved content creator known for her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle videos, was engaging with her audience when a man, posing as a delivery person, entered the premises. Moments before the shooting, a voice off-camera asked, “Are you Valeria?” to which she replied affirmatively. Gunshots followed almost immediately, with Márquez sustaining fatal wounds to her chest and head. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the suspect fled, reportedly on a motorcycle, and remains at large.
The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office is investigating the killing as a femicide, defined under Mexican law as the gender-based murder of a woman, which may involve degrading violence, sexual abuse, or a relationship with the perpetrator. No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unclear, though authorities are exploring all possibilities, including personal connections and broader societal factors.
Disturbing details emerged from earlier that day, suggesting Márquez may have sensed danger. In a prior livestream, she expressed unease about suspicious deliveries and a strange man who visited the salon asking for her by name but refusing to leave a package with an employee. These concerns, shared on her social media, have fueled speculation about whether the attack was premeditated.
Márquez, a Guadalajara native, had built a significant online presence, with over 90,000 TikTok followers and 73,000 on Instagram, where she shared makeup tutorials, comedic skits, and glimpses into her personal life. In 2021, she was crowned Miss Rostro, boosting her visibility as a rising star in Mexico’s influencer community. Her authenticity and warmth endeared her to fans, many of whom have flooded her social media with tributes expressing grief and demanding justice.
The tragedy has drawn attention to Mexico’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence. The United Nations reports that approximately 10 women or girls are murdered daily in the country, with femicide rates climbing in recent years amid economic instability and social inequality. Márquez’s death, broadcast live to her followers, has amplified calls for systemic change to protect women and combat the pervasive violence that claims so many lives.
On X, reactions range from heartbreak to outrage. One user posted, “Mexico is falling apart. Valeria Márquez was murdered live on air, and no one’s been caught. When will this stop?” Others have speculated about possible motives, including unverified claims about a personal dispute, though authorities have not confirmed such theories.
As the investigation continues, the loss of Valeria Márquez serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by women in Mexico and the urgent need for justice. Her legacy, marked by creativity and connection with her audience, endures through the outpouring of love from her community.
