María José Alvarado Muñoz (19 July 1995 – 13 November 2014) was a
Honduran model,
TV host
A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces, hosts television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. Nowadays, it is common for people who garner ...
and beauty pageant titleholder who was
Miss Honduras 2014.
Biography
She was born on July 19, 1995, in
Santa Bárbara, Honduras as María José Alvarado Muñoz. She was an actress, taking part in a TV show
X-O da dinero (1959).
In December 2014 she had been scheduled to compete at the
Miss World 2014
Miss World 2014, the 64th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 14 December 2014 at the ExCeL London in London, United Kingdom. 121 contestants competed for the crown. Megan Young of the Philippines crowned her successor Rolene Str ...
contest in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, but was murdered prior to the event.
On the night of 13 November, 2014, María José (19) and her older sister, Sofía Trinidad Alvarado Muñoz (23), disappeared after leaving a party in
Santa Bárbara, Honduras. According to witnesses she stepped into a car without license plates.
On 19 November, the same day María José had been expected to travel to
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, the sisters' bodies were found. They had both been shot and buried in a field near
Cablotales.
Plutarco Ruiz, Sofía Trinidad's boyfriend, as well as another man, Aris Maldonado, were arrested on suspicion of
kidnapping and
murder of the two sisters.
Ruiz confessed to the murders, stating he had shot Sofía Trinidad after an argument on the night of the party, then shot María José twice in the back as she tried to flee.
It was announced the same day that Honduras would not send a replacement to the
Miss World pageant as a sign of respect for Alvarado.
The chairwoman of the Miss World organization
Julia Morley
Julia Evelyn Morley (née Pritchard; born 25 October 1939) is a British businesswoman, charity worker, and former model. She is the chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, which organizes the Miss World and Mister World. She is the w ...
released a statement "''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 and Sofía Trinidad at this time of grief".''
Morley also stated the
Miss World pageant would hold a special memorial service for María José and her sister on 23 November. It was held.
See also
*
Femicides in Honduras
References
External links
María José Alvarado, Miss Honduras Mundo (obituary) elheraldo.hn; accessed 22 November 2014.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvarado, Maria Jose
1995 births
2014 deaths
People from Santa Bárbara Department, Honduras
Honduran models
People murdered in Honduras
Deaths by firearm in Honduras
Honduran murder victims
Honduran beauty pageant winners