María Lorena Argüello, a former Miss Ecuador 2024 candidate and semifinalist in the Miss Universe pageant, died unexpectedly at the age of 28. The tragic news was confirmed on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, sending shockwaves across Ecuador and the pageant community. According to initial reports, Argüello may have suffered a sudden cardiac death caused by a severe arrhythmia, which led to cardiorespiratory arrest. Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death.
Born on March 12, 1997, in Quito, Ecuador, María Lorena Argüello Salazar was a graduate of the University of the Americas and worked as a surgeon. In addition to her medical career, she was known for her commitment to humanitarian work, dedicating time to support underserved communities in her country. She rose to national recognition after winning the title of Miss Quito and representing Ecuador in the Miss Universe 2024 competition. Although she did not take home the crown, she reached the semifinals and was praised for her elegance, maturity, and professionalism.
Tributes poured in after the official Miss Ecuador Instagram page confirmed her passing. Numerous figures from the entertainment and fashion world expressed their condolences and shared memories of the young beauty queen. Argüello’s final Instagram post, dated March 30, 2025, featured a video of her workout routine, where she discussed how she maintained her physical condition for both her medical duties and modeling responsibilities.
