Celebrity TV host Patricia Fuenmayor tragically dies of cancer as tributes pour in
Television host and former Venezuelan beauty queen Patricia Fuenmayor has tragically died at age of 51 following a battle with cancer.
News of Fuenmayor's death was revealed by her colleague, Raúl González, during Univision's Despierta America morning show Monday.
'This is news we don't like to share,' he said. 'The Despierta América family has suffered a great loss. Our friend and colleague Patricia Fuenmayor passed away early this morning after a tough battle with cancer.'
'Despierta América is in mourning. With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to our beloved colleague Patricia Fuenmayor, a contributor in New York,' read a note on the show's Instagram account.
It described Fuenmayor 'a passionate, professional woman, always dedicated to her reporting.'
'Thank you, Patricia, for your light, your dedication, and your smile,' the note added. 'We will always remember you.'
Fuenamayor joined Univision in April 2017 and spent the last eight years working in a variety of roles.
She caught her big break in the New York market when Univision named her anchor of its morning news program, Al Despertar, in November 2020.
She took on the role of Despierta America correspondent in April 2023 until the time of her death.
Fuenmayor pursued a career in modeling and was a finalist in the Miss Venezuela pageant in 1997.
She found a career in journalism in 2003, when she joined RCTV International and spent seven years as a host. In 2013, she oined Venevision, where she worked as a presenter on the popular weekend variety program, Sábado Sensacional!
Fuenmayor revealed during a 2021 Despierta America segment that she and her husband, surgeon Jorge Safar Pérez, fled Venezuela after he was kidnapped.
They moved to the United States and eventually settled in New York, where she met a friend who helped her land her first job with Univision.
'We spent a year searching, trying, learning. We didn't speak the language, but hey, here we are,' Fuenmayor recalled.
'That dark night (of the kidnapping) turned into a blessing because we were able to grow as a family, giving importance to other things like helping our family in Venezuela.'
Venezuelan journalist spent the last eight years at Univision working several roles, including correspondent of the network's morning show, Despierta America
Fuenmayor's death stunned her Univision family.
'We love you, Pat, the woman with the most beautiful Venezuelan accent!' wrote Lilliana Allende, Fuenamayor's former coworker at Univision 41 in New York.
'Beautiful family. Rest in peace, beautiful, cheerful, and good-vibe woman. We'll always remember your charisma, your laughter, and your memorable moments.'
'Thank you, Patricia, for so much!' wrote Univision Chicago's Carolina Sulbaran. 'Thank you for that smile, for your joy, and for your wise words, the greatest when I arrived in this country.'
Fuenmayor is survived by her husband and their two children Sarah 14, and Fer, 13.
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