Grief as Miss Universe Jamaica alumna, Honduras runner-up die days apart

The international pageant community is mourning the deaths of Miss Universe Jamaica alumna LaToya Malcolm and Miss Universe Tegucigalpa runner-up Wualys Aquino, who died just days apart.

Malcolm, 35, competed in the 2024 Miss Universe Jamaica pageant before winning the 2024 Miss Jamaica Bikini International title.

Beyond pageantry, she was a Jamaican actress, entertainer, and dance instructor with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry.

She also worked with the Transition Project, an initiative providing training and resources to help adolescents navigate new opportunities.

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In 2024, Malcolm won her Bikini International title shortly after losing her father.

Celebrating her victory on Instagram, she dedicated the win to him, writing, "My beloved father, Mr. Malcolm, this win was for you. Your one and only daughter continues to make you proud. I know you're smiling down on me from heaven."

In a statement, the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation paid tribute to Malcolm, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Miss Universe Jamaica alumna LaToya Malcolm... Our heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones. Rest peacefully, LaToya. You will never be forgotten."

Tributes also poured in online, including a message from reigning Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry, who honoured Malcolm on her Instagram Stories.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Wualys Aquino recently finished as second runner-up in the Miss Universe Tegucigalpa competition, a regional pageant feeding into Miss Universe Honduras.

The organisation confirmed her death in a statement after she was found dead in her apartment.

"The Miss Universe Tegucigalpa organisation deeply mourns the passing of our runner-up, Wualys Aquino," the statement read, describing her as a compassionate contestant always eager to support her peers.

"This news has deeply affected us all, as it happened so unexpectedly. Wualys was a woman who not only shone herself but also helped her fellow contestants shine."

According to Brazilian outlet O Globo, Aquino's relatives raised the alarm after being unable to reach her for several days.

Police in Tegucigalpa have launched an investigation into her death, exploring both natural causes and the possibility of foul play, with an autopsy currently underway.