Beauty Queen Passes Away at 35 After a Nine-Year Battle with Colon Cancer
Andrea Andrade.
Credit:
Andrea Andrade/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- A California beauty queen has died nine years after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
- Doctors initially gave Andrea Andrade six months to two years to live.
- When she wasn’t competing in pageants or winning titles, the 35-year-old dedicated her time to helping children in her community who were diagnosed with cancer.
A California beauty queen, Andrea Andrade, lost her battle with colon cancer at the age of 35 on January 16, after surviving nine years post-diagnosis.
Andrade was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2017. Despite medical projections that she would only have six months to two years to live, she defied the odds and continued to thrive while engaged in various charitable activities, as reported by the Fresno Bee and Your Central Valley.
In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, her husband Chris Wilson wrote, “My eternal love. 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.”
The couple shared eight years together, including two years of marriage, according to the Fresno Bee.
Andrea Andrade.
Andrea Andrade/Instagram
Reflecting on their relationship, Wilson remarked, “I was punching above my weight class for sure. I was so surprised she ever gave me a shot. But what I realized really quickly was her authenticity.” He continued, “I fell in love with her soul and what made her who she was: positive, encouraging. I was her biggest fan and she was my biggest fan. She gave me confidence. She believed in me. And for her to love me the way she did, I’m forever grateful.”
Throughout her battle, Andrade won five pageants—including Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West, and Miss California Congeniality. However, her commitment to serving others remained a priority. Together with Wilson, she founded “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” a program inspired by a young boy who wore a superhero costume during his chemotherapy. The initiative allowed the couple to visit hospitals, bringing joy to children in need.
The couple’s charitable efforts included shopping for gifts to distribute to kids at hospitals, as they documented their experiences on social media. “She said it was one of her most rewarding things of her entire life,” Wilson shared, highlighting Andrade’s dedication to brightening the lives of families during difficult times.
Although Andrade initially went into remission, the cancer reoccurred and advanced to stage 4. The Fresno Bee reported that her health took a downturn in October, leading to a stay in the hospital shortly after Christmas.
Andrea Andrade.
Andrea Andrade/Instagram
In December 2017, during an interview with Inside Edition, Andrade expressed concern for her loved ones, particularly her parents, stating, “I look at my parents. I am thinking, ‘I am their only daughter,’ and I think, ‘What would they do without me?’” She also discussed her determination to pursue her lifelong dreams in spite of her diagnosis.
Wilson emphasized Andrade’s resilience, noting, “She never, never stopped fighting. She was just so inspirational to so many people.”
Andrade is survived by her husband, her parents, her older brother Junior, and two younger brothers, Eric and Jose, according to the Fresno Bee.
Funeral services for Andrade will be held at St. Anthony’s in Reedley, with a public viewing scheduled for February 4, as Wilson shared on social media.
