In a horrifying act of violence that has shaken Mexico and its online communities, 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was brutally murdered during a live stream on TikTok. The attack took place inside the beauty salon where she worked in Zapopan, Jalisco, sending shockwaves through a country grappling with a persistent epidemic of gender-based violence.
Márquez, known for her makeup tutorials and lifestyle content, had garnered nearly 200,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. Her growing popularity made her a familiar face in the online beauty community, particularly among young women who saw her as an inspiration.
According to the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office, Márquez was shot by an unidentified man who entered the salon on Tuesday. The incident, currently under investigation as a femicide, is emblematic of the ongoing violence against women in Mexico. Femicide, as defined by Mexican law, includes crimes involving degrading violence, sexual assault, or actions rooted in misogyny, and often occurs at the hands of individuals known to the victim.
Moments before the fatal shooting, Márquez was seen on her live stream sitting at a table, holding a stuffed toy. She appeared visibly anxious and mentioned that someone had previously come by the salon while she was away, claiming to have an expensive gift for her. She stated that she had no plans to wait for the person’s return. Seconds before the attack, she was heard responding to a voice in the background, then abruptly muted the stream. The next moments were chaos. A shot rang out, and a figure was briefly seen picking up her phone before the live feed ended.
The public nature of Márquez’s death has amplified the outrage. Social media erupted with grief and anger, as users mourned her loss and demanded justice.
Jalisco, the state where the murder occurred, ranks sixth in the country for total homicides, with 906 cases reported since October 2024, according to data from TResearch. Meanwhile, Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest rates of femicide in Latin America, tying with nations such as Bolivia and Uruguay.
Valeria Márquez’s life, full of promise and ambition, was taken in an instant. Her tragic death is a stark reminder of the dangers women face every day, and the urgency of action against gender-based violence in Mexico.