Patricia Fuenmayor, beloved Despierta América correspondent, passes away at 51

New York / Caracas – June 9, 2025 – The Despierta América family and Hispanic media mourn the loss of Patricia Fuenmayor, a Venezuelan beauty queen-turned-journalist, whose sudden death from cancer at age 51 was confirmed this morning. Univision’s team broke the news during the broadcast, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of a “passionate, professional woman, always dedicated to her reporting”.

A life of resilience and grace

• Born in Maracaibo and a finalist in Miss Venezuela 1997, Fuenmayor went on to be crowned Miss South America in 1998.

• She earned her degree in communications from Universidad Santa María in Caracas before launching a vibrant media career, working with Venevisión, Teledeportes, and E! Latinoamérica.

• In 2015, her husband, Dr. Jorge Safar Pérez, was kidnapped in Venezuela, a traumatic event that prompted their relocation to New York.

• In the U.S., she joined Univision 41 and later became a vital correspondent for Despierta América, reporting impactful stories and becoming a trusted voice for Latino viewers.

A profound loss felt by many

Her death has struck a chord across the Hispanic community:

• Despierta América host Raúl González, visibly moved on air, said: “The Despierta América family has suffered a great loss… A passionate, professional woman… Thank you, Patricia, for your light, your dedication, and your smile”.

• Colleagues Elyangélica González and Astrid Rivera described their shock and praised her professionalism, warmth, and dedication.

• People en Español’s Luz María Doria memorialized her as “a Queen… brave, faithful, and someone who left a profound impact on everyone who knew her”.

Family at the heart of her legacy

Patricia is survived by her husband, Dr. Jorge Safar Pérez, and their two children—daughter Sarah (born Aug 27, 2010) and son (April 2012)—now aged 14 and 13. Her final social media posts, full of love for her family, underscored the central role they played in her life.

From beauty queen to trusted journalist

Her journey from pageantry to journalism embodies both charisma and courage: from Miss Venezuela stages to New York newsrooms, she turned setbacks into fuel, ultimately earning admiration for her stories and commitment