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16th October 2023
11:52am BST
Tributes have been paid to former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas after she died at the age of 26.
De Armas had represented Uruguay at the 2015 Miss World competition, which was won by Spanish representative Mireia Lalaguna.
Six years after her appearance in the contest, De Armas was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and local media reported this week that she has sadly passed away.
According to Marca, De Armas died on October 13.
Confirming her passing on her Instagram account, her family wrote: "Sherika departed in peace, surrounded by the love of her family and friends."
"She will always be in our hearts."
Sherika's brother Mayk De Armas wrote on social media of his sibling: "No more pain, bon voyage. I’ll love you forever."
A number of former Miss World contestants also paid tribute to the 26-year-old, with current Miss Uruguay Carla Romero wrote: "Too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life."
Miss Uruguay 2021 winner, Lola de los Santos, also said: "I will always remember you, not only for all the support you gave me and for how much you wanted to see me grow, but for your love, your joy, the friends we shared and who remain with me today."
In a resurfaced interview from her time competing as Miss Uruguay, Sherika said it had always been her dream to be a model.
"I always wanted to be a model, whether a beauty model, an advertising model or a catwalk model," she told NetUruguay.
"I like everything related to fashion and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl's dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss Universe.
"I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges."
Along with her model work, Sherika owned her own studio and carried out charity work for institutions that work towards finding a cure for childhood cancer.
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