On 22 of September 2018, Azuany Ruvalcaba, a transgender woman, was shot dead in Chilapa de Álvarez in Guerrero as she arrived home. She was 32 years old and was a stylist and was also a activist who defended the human rights of the LGBT community.

Azuany was also a teacher in the SEP from 2004 and she also worked for Oriflame, where she was a “distinguished leader”. In more recent years, she was the owner of a boutique and hairdressers, Gaxart and Azuany Saloon.

Azuany was crowned Miss Guerrero International in 2012 and Our Beauty Chilapa in the same year.

She was the first designer to adapt indigenous clothing design for fashion. Her designs were used for beauty contests and were also worn by local politicians.

She was recognized as an activist for sexual diversity and she also had a local programme where she informed parents and children about sexual diversity. She was a real inspiration for the community.

Azuany’s murder is added to a long list of attacks on transgender women all over Mexico. According to Transgender Europe, Mexico has the second highest rate of transgender murders in the world, with Brazil having the highest rate and the United States ranked third.