Tributes have been pouring in for a beloved television presenter called Raquel Escalante, who has died from cervical cancer at the age of 28. Raquel, a former beauty queen, had been battling the disease since last February.

She tearfully asked for financial help to pay for kidney surgery in January and was awaiting a kidney transplant when she died of kidney failure on Friday, November 28. The star was best known for hosting 'Qué Chilero' and other shows on TV Azteca Guate, as reported by NeedToKnow. Raquel kept her thousands of Instagram followers aware of her progress throughout her cancer battle.

In a post back from April, she penned: "I'm not a model in these photos, I'm a woman who has experienced pain, who has faced fear, and who still chooses to keep shining. This is me: body, soul, and spirit in God's hands.

"And if this image touches your heart, let it be a reminder that you, too, can get up, again and again."

The host, who hails from Santa Rosa in Guatemala, started her modelling career at a young age and was part of international and national events.

Raquel also took part in the Miss Tourism World finals in China in 2017.

She was crowned Miss Guatemala Intercontinental in 2021 and has since become one of the nation's most beloved representatives.

The host went on to be part of the TV Azteca Guate family, with a channel spokesperson sharing a heartfelt tribute following her death

They penned: "The TV Azteca Guate family joins in solidarity with her parents, loved ones, friends, and fans, accompanying them in this moment of profound sorrow.

"We thank Raquel for her dedication, her ever-present smile, and for illuminating our screens with a talent that will forever remain in our memory. Rest in peace, Raquel Escalante. Your legacy will live forever in Guatemala's heart."