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A former California beauty queen, Andrea Andrade, has passed away at the age of 35, nearly nine years after being diagnosed with colon cancer—a battle she faced with extraordinary courage, grace, and determination.

Andrea Andrade died on January 16, defying the grim prognosis she received in 2017 when doctors told her she had only six months to two years to live after being diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Instead of surrendering to fear, Andrade chose to live fully, turning her struggle into a source of strength and inspiration for countless people.

Following her diagnosis, Andrade continued to pursue her lifelong passion for beauty pageants. Over the years, she won five major titles, including Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Bellisa USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West, and Miss California Congeniality. She also competed for the prestigious Miss California crown, proving that illness could not dim her ambition or spirit.

Even during intensive chemotherapy treatments, Andrade refused to put her dreams on hold. She participated in pageants while undergoing treatment, often appearing on stage with a chemotherapy port visible on her chest. In a 2017 interview with Inside Edition, she shared her motivation, saying she felt an urgency to follow her dreams while she still could, describing pageantry as one of her lifelong goals.

Andrade’s story was not only about personal achievement but also about hope and purpose. According to her husband, Chris Wilson, she believed it was her mission to share her journey to encourage others facing serious illnesses. Wilson told the Fresno Bee that Andrade wanted people to understand that a diagnosis does not mean the end of a meaningful life. Instead, she hoped to show that it is still possible to find joy, chase dreams, and inspire others, even in the face of adversity.

Wilson paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife on Instagram following her passing. In his emotional message, he described Andrade as his eternal love and expressed his belief that their bond would continue beyond this life. He wrote that he would see her again and asked her to keep her “heavenly arms” around him, ending the message with a declaration of love in Spanish.

Andrea Andrade and Chris Wilson shared eight years together and had been married for two years.

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