Influencer Maria Jose killed as femicide crisis escalates

The 22-year-old Colombian model and university student, Maria Jose Estupiñan, was gunned down on 15 May in the northern city of Cúcuta, by a man pretending to be a delivery guy. Sound like a thriller plot? Unfortunately, this was real life. Just two days earlier, Mexican TikToker Valeria Márquez was fatally shot during a livestream. Different countries, eerily similar horrors.

#Colombia | El público está conmocionado por un asesinato parecido al de la mexicana Valeria Márquez. En una zona residencial de Cúcuta, María José Estupiñán (22 años) abrió la puerta de su casa para recibir un supuesto envío a domicilio. El falso repartidor la atacó a balazos… pic.twitter.com/jLpSrhQDUb

— Diario La Gaceta (@DiarioLaGaceta) May 16, 2025

Who was Maria Jose Estupiñan?

Maria Jose was studying at Francisco de Paula Santander University and building her brand online, until her life was abruptly stolen. Reports say she was shot multiple times inside her own residence. And while investigators have not yet confirmed if it was femicide, there is smoke, and there is fire.

Asesinan a otra Influencer, el agresor fingió ser un repartidor.
María José Estupiñan conocida como “la mona” fue asesinada en Cúcuta Colombia el pasado 15 de mayo por la mañana. A través de redes sociales de difundieron imágenes del momento en que el presunto feminicida huye... pic.twitter.com/eRLt7wMFBZ

— notiterror 🌐 (@notiterror2) May 19, 2025

Maria had previously filed domestic violence complaints dating back to 2018 against her ex. She was reportedly about to receive 30 million pesos in compensation—money that may have become a motive. Magda Victoria Acosta, a leading voice in Colombia’s judiciary, said Maria’s death was a tragic example of how many women’s dreams are snatched away just as they are beginning to bloom.

Police Commander Colonel Leonardo Capacho acknowledged the possibility of femicide, noting that Maria had a documented history of complaints. But for now, it is "under investigation."

What is femicide?

For those asking, what is femicide? It is the murder of a woman, typically by a man, simply because she is a woman. In much of Latin America, it is not just a crime, it is an epidemic. Despite laws aimed at protecting women, the violence is relentless. A 2023 report revealed at least 11 women are killed daily in Latin America and the Caribbean due to gender-based violence.

And just like that, Maria joins a growing list of women who will never get to live out their potential. She was not a celebrity in the traditional sense. She was not livestreaming when it happened. But she was known, loved, and, like too many others, she was targeted.

From beauty salons in Mexico to student apartments in Colombia, the message is chillingly clear: Being a woman in Latin America should not be a death sentence. But for far too many, it still is.