Venezuelan television presenter and former beauty queen Patricia Fuenmayor died Monday, June 9, at age 51 following an 18-month battle with cancer. Fuenmayor worked as a New York correspondent for Univision’s morning program Despierta América.
The news was announced during Monday’s broadcast of Despierta América, where host Raúl González confirmed that Fuenmayor had passed away early that morning after her lengthy cancer battle. González described her as a passionate and professional woman who was always dedicated to her reporting work.
Fuenmayor began her public career in pageants, representing Zulia state as a finalist in Miss Venezuela 1997. The following year, she was crowned Miss South America 1998 in Bolivia, earning recognition across Latin America. After her pageant success, she transitioned into television journalism, studying communications at Universidad Santa María in Caracas.
Her early media career flourished in Venezuela, where she worked as a presenter on prominent networks including Venevisión and Teledeportes. She hosted popular shows such as De Boca en Boca, Ají Picante, and Buscando una estrella on Súper Sábado Sensacional, establishing herself as a beloved public figure in Venezuelan television.
Fuenmayor’s life changed dramatically in 2015 when her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Jorge Safar Pérez, was kidnapped in Venezuela. This traumatic incident forced the family to flee the country and seek refuge in the United States. The experience filled her with fear and uncertainty, as she described in several interviews about how deeply the event affected their lives.
Upon arriving in New York, Fuenmayor rebuilt her career from the ground up. She initially joined Univision 41 as an anchor for the morning newscast Al Despertar. From 2017 onward, she hosted Edición Digital New York, covering news relevant to the Hispanic community in the metropolitan area.
Her role expanded when she became a correspondent for Despierta América, where she reported on local news and community stories that resonated with Latino audiences. Colleagues described her warmth and professionalism as qualities that made her a trusted voice for immigrants navigating new lives in America.
The announcement of her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and viewers. Despierta América posted on Instagram that they “deeply regret the passing of Patricia Fuenmayor, our colleague and correspondent in New York.”
Television anchor Elyangelica González expressed her grief on social media, asking for divine comfort for Fuenmayor’s beloved children and describing how the sky would be prettier with her arrival. Fellow journalist Astrid Rivera praised her as a tremendous journalist and excellent woman and mother, noting that both the team and the world would miss such a beautiful person.
Fuenmayor maintained an active social media presence with over 200,000 followers on Instagram. Her final post in February 2025 featured a photograph with her husband, accompanied by a message expressing her love for him. Earlier, her last holiday post in January wished her followers health, well-being, joy and abundance for the new year.
She is survived by her husband Jorge Safar Pérez and their two children, Sarah and Chini. During her cancer battle, her family served as her greatest source of strength, and colleagues noted how frequently she expressed her deep love for them.
Fuenmayor’s career spanned multiple decades and demonstrated her versatility in entertainment and journalism. She worked across various media platforms, including television, radio, and sports coverage, building a reputation for her engaging personality and professional dedication.
