Wualys Fuentes Aquino, a 23-year-old Miss Universe contestant, was found deceased in her apartment on July 20. Relatives discovered her after several days without contact. The cause of her death is currently undetermined, with officials considering both foul play and natural causes as possibilities while the investigation continues.
Fuentes Aquino recently achieved the runner-up position in the Miss Universe Tegucigalpa 2026 pageant, finishing behind winner Luciana Núñez. Beyond her pageant career, she pursued studies in International Marketing and Social Work at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Recognized as a burgeoning talent in her home country, she frequently shared her passion for travel on social media.
The Miss Universe Tegucigalpa organization characterized Fuentes Aquino as supportive, kind, and dedicated, highlighting her talent, charisma, and supportive demeanor towards fellow contestants.
Her last social media activity, posted on Saturday, featured a series of black and white modeling photographs. She captioned the post with a reflection on the value of being over having: "Between HAVING and BEING, choose BEING. Essence has VALUE; things have a price. Anyone can have what you have, but NO ONE can be who you are."
This news follows the recent announcement of the death of LaToya Malcolm, a former Miss Universe Jamaica finalist, who passed away at the age of 35. The Miss Universe Jamaica account shared the news on Instagram, expressing condolences to Malcolm's family and friends. A cause of death for Malcolm has not yet been disclosed. Malcolm had also won the Miss Jamaica Bikini International title in 2024 and was described as an actress and entertainer with over a decade of experience, also working as a dance instructor and TV host.