Friday, July 3, 2026 - A former Florida beauty queen was k!lled by the devastating earthquakes that shook Venezuela last week, after she was found lying side-by-side with her boyfriend underneath the rubble of their building.
Skarlent Rodríguez, 23, and her boyfriend José Castro had
been missing for several days after their apartment building in the heavily
damaged region of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state collapsed during one of the
June 24 earthquakes, HOLA! reported.
Following an extensive search-and-rescue effort, the bodies
of Rodríguez and Castro were recovered on Monday, lying together buried beneath
the rubble of their building, the Rodríguez and Castro families announced on
their joint GoFundMe page.
“Sadly, they were both found dead…side by side, together
until the very end,” the two grief-stricken families wrote on the fundraiser.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are living,” the statement added.
Castro’s father, grandmother, uncle and aunt also d!ed in
the devastating disaster in Venezuela.
Rodríguez, who hails from the South American country, began
gaining international recognition after being crowned Miss Grand Orlando in
Florida’s competition last year.
The Miss Grand Florida organization mourned the loss of the
rising beauty queen on social media, reflecting on her “radiant smile, warm
spirit, and unwavering positivity [that] touched everyone she encountered, both
on and off the stage.”
“She will be remembered not only for her beauty and
accomplishments but also for the way she uplifted others and carried herself
with dignity and light,” the organization continued.
“Her legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of her
fellow queens, judges, directors, and all members of the Miss Grand Florida
family.”
Following the catastrophic earthquakes on June 24,
Venezuelan authorities confirmed that at least 1,719 people have died, with
some 5,000 more injured.
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