Cristina Sanz, a star of the A&E reality series "Born This Way," died Monday morning from sudden cardiac arrest, her parents announced Wednesday. She was 36 years old.
Sanz suffered cardiac arrest while at her day program and was transported to the hospital. Despite medical efforts, she could not be stabilized, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account. Her parents, Mariano and Beatriz, stated that her death was "a total shock and unexpected."
"Born This Way" aired for four seasons between 2015 and 2019 and followed the lives of adults with Down syndrome. Sanz was featured in all four seasons of the critically acclaimed series, which earned three Emmy Awards: one in 2016 for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and two in 2017 for Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program and Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program.
The show documented Sanz's life, including her marriage to Angel, which was featured in a 2018 episode. The couple later divorced in 2021, citing strain from COVID-19 confinement, according to TMZ.
Sanz's last social media post was in December 2025, when she shared a photo with cast members of "Born This Way." A&E released a statement expressing sadness over her passing, noting that she "touched the hearts of many through her time on 'Born This Way.'"
Her parents concluded their statement by saying, "We will forever treasure the gift of her life. We will all carry in our hearts the wonderful 'Cristina moments' that she gave us."