Two young Latin American influencers were fatally shot within days of each other, and now, both killings are under investigation as possible femicides. Maria Jose Estupiñan of Colombia and Valeria Márquez of Mexico collectively had nearly 200,000 followers on social media. But their recent deaths have sparked international concern over rising violence targeting women with public platforms.
Colombian influencer gunned down on porch
Maria Jose Estupiñan Sanchez, known online as “La Mona,” was shot and killed outside her home in Cúcuta, Colombia on May 15.
According to a local media outlet, the 22-year-old was on her front porch as a man posing as a delivery driver approached with a fake gift. Moments later, he pulled out a gun, shot her and fled. He was seen escaping on foot in CCTV footage.
Estupiñan was a college student and influencer with nearly 45,000 TikTok followers. Just one day before the shooting, she won a domestic violence case against her ex-boyfriend. He had been ordered to pay her 30 million Colombian pesos, or approximately $7,000 USD.
Authorities have named the former partner as a primary suspect in her killing.
Mexican influencer shot during livestream
Just two days earlier, on May 13, Mexican influencer Valeria Márquez was fatally shot while livestreaming from her beauty salon in Jalisco state.
Márquez had more than 113,000 followers on TikTok. During the stream, she shared concerns with her audience about a suspicious delivery from a masked man made in her absence — an expensive gift she couldn’t trace.
“I’m already intrigued as to who the hell sent me that,” she told her viewers.
At one point during the livestream, she was handed a stuffed animal and a Starbucks drink. Moments before the shooting, Márquez said, “They’re coming,” as a man entered the salon and asked, “Hey, Vale?” to which she replied, “Yes?”
She then muted her livestream and was immediately shot in the chest and head.
Authorities suspect hired killers
Denis Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed Márquez’s killing to The Associated Press.
Rodriguez also noted that sicarios — hired assassins on motorcycles — have become increasingly common in the region.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Jalisco is currently under a Level 3 travel advisory due to crime and kidnapping. Reuters also reported that the state ranks sixth out of Mexico’s 32 states for homicide rates.
Authorities in both Colombia and Mexico are investigating the cases as possible femicides, defined as the killing of women or girls because of their gender.
Why is this happening?
While authorities have not confirmed it, some social media users and international outlets are circulating alleged leaked text messages between the salon employee who ended Márquez’s livestream and a friend. Some claim a few of Márquez’s friends were jealous of her and point to past livestream behavior as red flags.
One message reportedly sent to the store employee reads, “Everything has to go right, you understand? You don’t know the problem you’ll also have if it doesn’t go as planned.”
Users also cited the employee’s calm demeanor and quick decision to end Márquez’s livestream as additional reasons for suspicion.
Others speculate a friend may have played a role in keeping Márquez at the salon. The theory suggests she was encouraged to stay because someone was sending her a Starbucks drink and stuffed animal via DoorDash. They believe the bright pink stuffed animal she received was a marker to identify her to the shooter.
Estupiñan and Márquez are not the only influencers recently targeted. Their deaths reflect a broader pattern of violence against public-facing women in the digital space.
In March, Japanese YouTuber Airi Sato was fatally stabbed during a livestream in Tokyo, further underscoring the dangers faced by content creators worldwide.
