Ana Beatriz Araújo Ferreira, a 22-year-old beauty queen, died on Saturday after being struck by lightning in Almas, Brazil. The incident occurred in the back garden of her mother's home during a mild rainstorm.
Ferreira had been attending to her five-year-old son and her niece when the lightning bolt struck. Her sister, Lana Letícia, stated that the area where Ferreira was standing was lined with trees and had a wash tub.
Ferreira was transported to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries later that day. Her brother, César Augusto, described the event as happening instantaneously and recalled the day as having a calm drizzle. He shared memories of Ferreira, stating she was "one of the most beautiful people I've ever known" and that she was struck while "doing what she loved most, showing love through something simple."
Ferreira, also known as Aninha, had recently been named Queen of the Rodeo at the agricultural fair ExpoAlmas. Organizers of the event posted a message on Instagram mourning her loss and expressing solidarity with her family and friends.
Her godmother, Marcella Batista, remembered Ferreira as joyful, full of dreams, and devoted to her family, describing her as a "model mother" who was careful and extremely family-oriented. Ferreira was a physiotherapy student at Unopar University, having recently begun her first term.
Local police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.