A shocking event has alarmed public opinion in Mexico and beyond: Valeria Márquez, 23, an influencer known for her beauty and makeup videos, was shot dead during a live broadcast on TikTok, at the beauty salon where she worked.
The Jalisco regional prosecutor's office has confirmed that her death is being investigated as femicide - a form of killing a woman because of her gender.
The incident took place on Tuesday in the city of Zapopan, where a man entered the beauty salon and shot Valeria to death. Footage of the fatal moment, which quickly spread on social media, has left many people shocked.
In the final seconds of the live broadcast, Valeria was seen sitting, holding a stuffed toy. She was heard saying, "They're coming," as a voice in the background asked, "Vale?" "Yes," she replied, before hiding and blocking the audio of the video.
Before me, there were shots fired and a person appeared on camera for a few seconds, before the video was finally cut off.
During the same live broadcast, Valeria revealed that an unknown person had gone to the salon earlier to leave her an "expensive gift" while she was not there. She expressed concern and emphasized that she had no intention of waiting for him to return.
According to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest rate of femicide in the region, with 1.3 murders for every 100,000 women.
The story of Valeria Márquez is not just a crime, but a reflection of a dangerous reality for women in many countries.
