A California beauty queen who defied medical expectations by living for nine years after a terminal colon cancer diagnosis has died at the age of 35.
A Legacy of Defiance and Compassion
Andrea Andrade passed away on January 16, nearly a decade after doctors initially gave her just six months to two years to live following a stage three colon cancer diagnosis in 2017. Her husband, Chris Wilson, shared the heartbreaking news in a poignant tribute on Instagram, writing: “My eternal love. I know this isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you on the other side baby. Keep your heavenly arms around me, I love you mi amor.”
Pursuing Dreams Amidst Treatment
Remarkably, after her diagnosis, Andrade refused to let her illness define her. She went on to win an impressive five beauty pageant titles: Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West, and Miss California Congeniality. She also competed for the prestigious Miss California crown. She achieved this while undergoing intensive chemotherapy, often competing with a chemo port visibly in her chest.
In a 2017 interview with Inside Edition, she explained her drive: “I felt like I just need to do this now. It's been one of my lifelong dreams.”
A Mission to Inspire and Support
Wilson told the Fresno Bee that his wife believed her purpose was to inspire others. “She felt her mission from God was to share her story and help other people,” he said. “To let it be known that even if you’re diagnosed with something, you can still have an amazing life and pursue your dreams. Like Andrea did. And it was an honor to be part of that.”
The couple, who were together for eight years and married for two, channeled their experience into founding a charitable program called Not All Heroes Wear Capes. This initiative was dedicated to supporting children undergoing chemotherapy. They visited hospitals to spend time with young cancer patients and deliver gifts.
Heartfelt Charity Work and Final Messages
Andrade was deeply moved by this work, describing it as “always bitter sweet for me.” In an Instagram post from April 2025, she wrote: “I love seeing the smiles but I know the pain these children and their families are going through, and it always hurts my heart. This year I broke my own record, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, I lasted a whole 2 minutes then I was bawling like a baby!”
Her final public post celebrated her 35th birthday in November, captioned: “Chapter 35: just getting started, all glory to God.” Since her passing, tributes have flooded this post. One user wrote: “May you rest in peace Andrea. You fought long and hard, you were brave and always so positive. Full of life. You will always be remembered for your courage.” Another commented: “Andrea. RIP beautiful girl. I'm sure you are joking and making everyone laugh in Heaven.”
Andrea Andrade's story remains a powerful testament to resilience, compassion, and living life to the fullest against formidable odds.
