URUGUAY, Oct 15, (Agencies): Former Miss World contestant Sherika De Armas, who proudly represented Uruguay in the 2015 pageant, has passed away at the age of 26. She lost her battle with cervical cancer, a two-year struggle that concluded last week, as reported by local media. Friends and family have come together to pay heartfelt tributes to the brunette beauty queen.

On social media, her brother Mayk' De Armas expressed his grief, saying, "Fly high, little sister. Always and forever." Carla Romero, the reigning Miss Uruguay, also mourned the loss, describing De Armas as "too evolved for this world" and one of the most beautiful women she had ever met.

A close friend, Anto Ciavaglia, reminisced about De Armas, stating, "I remember you with that beautiful glow." De Armas had a deep passion for modeling, expressing her aspirations to become a beauty, advertising, or catwalk model, saying, "I like everything related to fashion, and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl's dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss Universe. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges," in a translated interview with NetUruguay, as per Univision.

While she did not make it to the top 30 in the 2015 Miss World contest held in Sanya, China, De Armas garnered praise for her "beautiful face, towering height, and charismatic personality." She was one of just six 18-year-olds who had the honor of competing, and she was hailed as one of the young promising talents of Uruguay.

Beyond the world of fashion and beauty, De Armas was known for her entrepreneurial spirit. She operated the Shey De Armas Beauty Studio, where she offered personal care, makeup, and hair products. Additionally, she dedicated her time to the Pérez Scremini Foundation, an organization focused on childhood cancer.

Cervical cancer primarily affects individuals over the age of 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease, however, is preventable through regular screenings and the HPV vaccine, as emphasized by the CDC.