ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – The brazen murder of Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer known for her beauty and makeup content, during a live TikTok stream has sent shockwaves across Mexico, highlighting the country’s ongoing struggle with gender-based violence.
Marquez, who had nearly 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, was fatally shot Tuesday in the Zapopan beauty salon where she worked. According to a statement released Tuesday evening by the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office, the death is being investigated as a potential femicide – the killing of women or girls because of their gender.
The chilling incident unfolded during a live broadcast. Seconds before the shooting, Marquez, clutching a stuffed toy, was heard saying, “They’re coming.” A male voice then asked, “Hey, Vale?” Marquez responded, “Yes,” before abruptly muting the audio on her livestream. Moments later, gunshots rang out, and the livestream abruptly ended after an unidentified individual briefly appeared on camera, seemingly picking up her phone.
Earlier in the livestream, Marquez had expressed concern about a person who had visited the salon earlier that day with an “expensive gift” intended for her. She stated she wouldn’t wait for the individual’s return.
The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office has not yet named a suspect in the case, but the investigation is underway. Marquez’s death underscores the pervasive threat of violence faced by women in Mexico, prompting renewed calls for greater protection and stricter measures to combat gender-based violence. The incident has also sparked widespread outrage and grief among Marquez’s followers and the broader online community.
