Who was Valeria Marquez, the beauty influencer shot dead during livestream

A shocking and tragic incident has rocked Mexico’s influencer community—23-year-old beauty influencerValeria Marquez was shot and killed while livestreaming at her salon in Jalisco.According to various reports, the gunman arrived on a motorbike, pretending to deliver a gift. But instead of handing over a package, he pulled out a gun and opened fire right in the middle of her live session.Valeria, who had nearly 200,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, was hit in the chest and head. She didn’t survive the attack. Just hours before her death, she had shared a selfie on her Instagram Story posing in the salon.In the now-viral clip, she can be heard saying, “They’re coming,” as if expecting someone. A voice off-camera then asks, “Hey, Vale?” “Yes,” she replies—her last word on the livestream—before she mutes the audio.Moments later, Valeria was shot and killed shortly after. In the final seconds of the livestream, someone appears to pick up her phone, and their face briefly flashes on screen before the video abruptly ends.The chilling footage has since left her followers—and the internet—stunned."This case adds to a series of violent attacks against women in Jalisco, as the state maintains high rates of violence against women, with 1,018 femicides investigated from 2018 to 2023," El Imparcial reported.Femicide is the intentional killing of women and girls simply because of their gender. It's one of the most extreme forms of gender-based violence. It includes honor killings, dowry deaths, domestic violence that turns fatal, and even targeted attacks on women in public spaces. At its core, femicide often stems from deep-rooted societal norms that devalue women, and tolerate violence as a way to “discipline” or punish women who challenge traditional roles. Countries like Mexico, Brazil, and El Salvador have seen shocking increases in the number of women brutally murdered each year.Several factors contribute to this rise. Economic instability, political unrest, and social inequality create environments where violence can thrive.The death of Valeria Marquez, 23, is being investigated according to protocols for femicide - the killing of women or girls for reasons of gender - the Jalisco state prosecutor said in a statement released on Tuesday evening, according to Reuters. It is important to be mindful of one's safety when outdoors in the midst of such occurrences becoming repetitive.