U.S. beauty queen dies at 35 after 9-year battle with colon cancer

In the world of pageantry, a crown is often seen as the ultimate goal—a symbol of grace, beauty, and poise. But for Andrea Andrade, the titles she earned were merely the backdrop for a much grimmer, more courageous battle. After nine years of defying medical statistics and a terminal diagnosis, the California beauty queen has passed away at the age of 35.

Her death on January 16 was confirmed by her husband, Chris Wilson, in a social media tribute that has moved thousands. “My eternal love,” he wrote. “I know this isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you on the other side baby. Keep your heavenly arms around me, I love you mi amor.”

A Sudden Descent into a Nine-Year War

The nightmare began in 2017. At just 26 years old, during a trip to Mexico to visit family with her grandmother, Andrade experienced sudden, agonizing abdominal cramps and heavy bleeding. Having lived with endometriosis for years, she initially mistook the pain for a familiar struggle.

However, the situation turned critical. Rushed to a local hospital, doctors discovered she had lost three pints of blood. The facility lacked the necessary supply for a transfusion, and the prognosis was bleak; her grandmother was told to call Andrade’s parents to say their final goodbyes.

Refusing to accept a death sentence, her father organized a massive local effort, bringing “truckloads” of donors to the hospital. That transfusion saved her life long enough for doctors to deliver a world-altering diagnosis: Stage 3 colon cancer.

Defying the “Six-Month” Sentence

At the time of her diagnosis, medical professionals warned Andrade that she likely had only six months to two years to live. Instead, she lived for nearly a decade. These were not years spent in retreat, but years filled with achievement. Andrade claimed five major titles, including Miss West Coast, Miss Fresno County, and Miss California Congeniality.

Yet, those close to her insist the crowns were secondary to her soul. Her husband reflected on their eight years together, noting her unwavering authenticity. “I was punching above my weight class for sure,” Wilson said. “I fell in love with her soul… she was positive, encouraging. She never, never stopped fighting.”

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Perhaps her most profound contribution was born in a chemotherapy ward. After meeting a young boy who wore a superhero costume to his treatments, Andrade and Wilson founded “Not All Heroes Wear Capes.” The couple began visiting hospitalized children dressed as superheroes, bringing mascots and gifts to families enduring their darkest hours.

In an April 2025 post, Andrade admitted the emotional toll of the work: “This time of year is always bittersweet… I know the pain these children and their families are going through, and it always hurts my heart.” Despite her own declining health, she pushed through the tears to provide a moment of joy for others.

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A Rising Epidemic Among the Young

Andrade’s story is the face of a terrifying trend in American medicine. While cancer deaths among those under 50 are generally declining, colorectal cancer is rising—now claiming more young lives than any other form of the disease.

Because symptoms are often subtle or attributed to other conditions like hemorrhoids or IBS, the cancer is frequently caught in later stages. Medical experts urge young adults to be vigilant for:

• Persistent abdominal pain and cramping

• Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding

• Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite

• Fatigue, nausea, or changes in bowel habits

The Final Battle

Though she experienced periods of remission, the cancer eventually returned with a vengeance, advancing to Stage 4 and spreading to her reproductive system. Her health took a sharp turn following the 2025 holiday season, leading to her final hospitalization after Christmas.

Years earlier, she had told Inside Edition that her greatest fear was the pain her parents would feel: “I think, ‘What would they do without me?’”

To honor her struggle and the struggles of those to come, Andrade donated a chemotherapy bell to a new cancer center in Fresno. It is engraved with a phrase her aunt once told her: “God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors.” Though Andrea will not be there to see future patients ring that bell in triumph, her spirit is etched into the metal.

Andrea Andrade is survived by her husband, her parents, and her three brothers. Her crown has been laid down, but the impact of her nine-year fight will endure in the hearts of every “superhero” she inspired.