Beauty Queen's Tragic Death

Miss Honduras World 2014 Maria Jose Alvarado

She had packed up already & all set to go as she excitedly looked forward for November 19, the day she was supposed to leave for London to compete in Miss World 2014.  

That date turned out to be a day of mourning not only for her family but also for the entire nation of Honduras when  the bodies of Miss Honduras World 2014 , Maria Jose Alvarado, 19 years old, and her sister Sofia Trinidad, 23 years old, were found buried in a field in the village of Cablotales.

Miss Honduras and her sister were shot to death in an "act of passion" by a jealous boyfriend at his own birthday party and buried in a river bank in the mountains, police said. Alvarado and her sister were attending a birthday party for the older Alvarado’s boyfriend at a local spa when he allegedly became angry that Sofia was dancing with another man, according to witness statements.

He allegedly shot Sofia to death then killed Alvarado when she tried to flee. Sabillon called the killings an "act of passion" inflamed by jealousy.

A week earlier, police confirmed the disappearance of María José Alvarado, Miss Honduras World, with her sister Sophia Trinidad Alvarado. It was learned that on Thursday, the beauty queen came to Santa Barbara from Tegucigalpa to spend a few days with her parents before traveling to London, where she will represent Honduras in the Miss World contest.

She was crowned Miss Honduras World 2014 last April

Eduardo Zablah, director of this pageant in Honduras, confirmed that the two women went missing on Thursday, after they were spotted leaving a party in the Santa Barbara region.

Organisers of the Miss World pageant issued a statement expressing their condolences, and announcing a tribute this weekend in honour of the dead women. 

MESSAGE FROM JULIA MORLEY, Chairman, Miss World Organization

To everyone around the world who has been touched by the awful news from Honduras this morning. 

We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Maria Jose Alvarado & Sofia Trinidad at this time of grief.

We are receiving messages of condolences and support from our Miss World family across the world, who all share our sadness at such a tragedy.

We will be holding a special service with all of the Miss World contestants on Sunday, where we will be honoring the lives of Maria Jose Alvarado and Sofia Trinidad, and say prayers for them and their family.

We will also be having a special fundraiser to keep their names alive forever and donate the money to a children’s home in Honduras, chosen by their mother. 

Miss Honduras’ profile and photo were already posted in the pageant website’s Miss World 2014 Candidates’ Gallery

·      Crowned Miss Honduras in April 2014, Maria Jose Alvarado was due to fly to London for the Miss World contest

·         Her profile on the Miss World site records that she was a student with "aspirations of a career in government, specifically as a diplomat"

·         Quote from profile: "I encourage you to make of Honduras a travel destination, the best is yet to come!"

In a story headlined "The shattered dream of Maria Jose to represent Honduras at Miss World", La Prensa reports that the 19-year-old had already packed her bags to travel to London this week to represent Honduras at the Miss World pageant in December. 

In a country that puts beauty queens on a pedestal, the news has been met with shock and grief. Honduras has decided not to send another contestant in her place as a sign of respect.

Our thoughts and prayers for the families of the Alvarado sisters in their hour of grief

Photo Credits:

Copyright infringement not intended