Former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas dies age 26 after two-year cancer battle
Rachel Newton
Updated on March 24, 2026
Former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas has died aged just 26 after fighting cervical cancer for two years.
De Armas competed in 2015’s Miss World pageant in China when she was 18. She represented Uraguay in the global competition.
Two years ago, the Miss World competition was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Reports suggest she passed away last week. As per La Prensa Grafica newspaper, De Armas had undergone treatments for her cervical cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Sherika De Armas competed in Miss World
De Armas didn’t win the competition but was one of the youngest contestants from 2015’s Miss World competitions, at just 18. She was one of only six 18-year-olds to take part. At the time, she told the media that it was her dream to participate in the competition.
“I always wanted to be a model, whether a beauty model, an advertising model or a catwalk model,” she told NetUraguay. “I like everything related to fashion and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl’s dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss Universe. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges.”
At the time of her Miss World participation, De Armas was volunteering for an NGO that helps disabled children and worked at the Pereira Rossell Hospital.
The 26-year-old Miss World contestant went on to start her own makeup and beauty studio in Montevideo, Uraguary called the Shey De Armas Studio. Sherika De Armas also reportedly devoted her time to working with children’s cancer charity Pérez Scremini Foundation.
Loved ones remember her
Following the news of her passing, De Armas’ family and friends have taken to social media to share how they remember her.
The current Miss Universe Uruguay, Carla Romero, shared photos of herself and De Armas, describing her as one of the “most beautiful women.”
“Too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life, on the outside it is obvious but on the inside, you can’t imagine it,” she wrote in an Instagram post caption.
De Armas’ brother, Mayk’ De Armas also shared a heartfelt post for his sister online, writing: “Fly high, little sister. Always and forever.”
Miss World pagaent fans have also taken to social media to share remembrance posts for the former competitor, titling her a “queen.”
Cervical cancer among young women
According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in women aged between 35 and 44.
Modern developments like the Pap smear test, a screening procedure that finds changes in the cervix, and the HPV vaccine have fortunately allowed for lower rates of cervical cancer in young women.
