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Ex Miss Venezuela Dead of Cancer at 28

Eva Ekvall fought to raise breast cancer awareness

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 20, 2011 12:55 AM CST | Updated Dec 20, 2011 6:00 AM CST

(Newser) – Eva Ekvall was many things in her short life—a mother, an actress, a TV news anchor and, at the age of 17, Miss Venezuela. But she will be best remembered for her fight against breast cancer, which raised awareness of the disease among thousands of ordinary Venezuelans. Ekvall, who died in a Houston hospital over the weekend at the age of 28, became an advocate for a cancer charity after her diagnosis last year—and authored a book about her struggle, which included images of her undergoing chemotherapy, bald and without makeup, reports AP.

"I hate to see photos in which I come out ugly," Ekvall said. "But you know what? Nobody ever said cancer is pretty or that I should look like Miss Venezuela when I have cancer." Ekvall, the daughter of an American father and a Jamaican mother, leaves behind a husband and a 2-year-old daughter. Health workers credit her efforts with an increase in the number of women going for breast examinations. She demonstrated "extraordinary calm and courage in her fight against cancer," said writer Leonardo Padron, one of many prominent Venezuelans who offered their condolences.

The cover of Ekvall's book Fuera de Foco (Out of Focus), about her struggle with cancer,
The cover of Ekvall's book Fuera de Foco" ("Out of Focus"), about her struggle with cancer,   (Amazon)
Eva Ekvall compete in 2000 in the Miss Venezuela contest.
Eva Ekvall compete in 2000 in the Miss Venezuela contest.   (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Eva Ekvall reacts after winning the Miss Venezuela 2000 beauty pageant in Caracas, Venezuela.
Eva Ekvall reacts after winning the Miss Venezuela 2000 beauty pageant in Caracas, Venezuela.   (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
HappyHabenero
Dec 21, 2011 4:51 AM CST
RIP maam.  May your legacy live on through your daughter, and those that you have possibly saved by increasing awareness of that disease. :(
JoeQ
Dec 20, 2011 11:20 AM CST
What a fascinating person she must have been, and look how much she had accomplished by the age of 28.  RIP
nick
Dec 20, 2011 9:07 AM CST
Perhaps, in her short life she has helped humanity more than all of Wall Street's riches combined. Though truly a sad story, her life symbolizes what Christianity is all about. 

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