ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – The tragic murder of a 23-year-old Mexican beauty influencer, Valeria Marquez, has captivated and horrified a nation. Marquez was fatally shot while live-streaming on TikTok from the beauty salon where she worked in Zapopan, central Mexico. Her followers witnessed her last moments during the broadcast.
In the minutes leading up to the incident, Marquez mentioned that someone had visited earlier, promising an expensive gift. Moments later, as she held a pink stuffed animal, she seemed to recognize someone off-camera, saying, “They’re coming,” before a voice was heard asking for her by name. Marquez responded affirmatively and leaned over to mute the live stream before the fatal shots were fired.
The horrifying event unfolded live, with the perpetrator briefly appearing on the stream before it abruptly ended. The identity and connection of this individual to Marquez’s murder remain undisclosed as authorities continue their investigation. The case is being treated as a possible femicide, a term used for the intentional killing of women because of their gender, which has sparked widespread outrage.
The murder of Marquez, who had amassed nearly 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, has prompted Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum to pledge justice. The prosecutor’s office has not yet named a suspect but confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Paulina Garcia del Moral, an assistant professor specializing in gender violence in Mexico and Latin America, expressed her horror but not surprise at the incident. She noted that despite femicide being recognized as a federal crime, violence against women, including femicide, continues to rise in Mexico. Last year, the government reported 847 femicides, accounting for nearly a quarter of all female homicides.
Fighting femicide was a key part of Sheinbaum’s recent presidential campaign, highlighting the urgent need for institutional changes. Garcia del Moral emphasized that addressing the issue requires acknowledging institutional responsibility for creating conditions that allow such violence to persist.
Human rights groups argue that the lack of severe punishments for perpetrators contributes to the prevalence of femicide in Mexico. Punishments vary significantly across states, with sentences ranging from 20 to 60 years. However, discrepancies in definitions and resource limitations hinder the pursuit of justice, resulting in 95% of femicide cases going unpunished, according to Amnesty International.
As the investigation into Marquez’s murder continues, the case underscores the broader challenges Mexico faces in combating gender-based violence and ensuring justice for victims.