Former Miss Venezuela Loses Battle with Breast Cancer

Eva Ekvall with John Fabio Bermúdez (husband) as she's on her way to get a mastectomy. Eva Ekvall  tells her story in a book <i>Fuera de Foco. </i>She died on Saturday. (Photos courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva Ekvall with Dawn Johnson (mother) and John Fabio Bermúdez (husband) before the surgery. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva with her mother and husband before the surgery. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva, the day of the surgery. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva Ekvall with Dawn Johnson (mother). (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva's mother and husband in the waiting area. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eric Ekvall (father) in the waiting area. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Family and friends waiting for Eva's surgery to be over. (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

Eva Ekvall headshot, as Miss Venezuela 2001. (AP)

Eva Ekvall's book, <i><b>Fuera de Foco</b></i> (Courtesy of Roberto Mata)

FILE - In this May 11, 2001 file photo, Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall stands with other contestants, unseen, as they wait for the announcement of the winner of Miss Universe in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Ekvall died on Saturday Dec. 17 of cancer in Houston at age 28. The Venezuelan television channel Globovision reports that Ekvall died on Saturday in a Houston hospital after a long struggle with breast cancer. At age 18, Ekvall was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. She was a model, actress and television news anchor. (AP Photo/Tomas van Houtryve, File) (AP2001)

FILE - In this photo taken on Sept. 9, 2000, Eva Ekvall competes in the Miss Venezuela 2000 beauty contest in Caracas, Venezuela. Ekvall, whose struggle with breast cancer was closely followed by Venezuelans, has died at age 28. Her family said Ekvall died Saturday Dec. 17 at a hospital in Houston. Ekvall was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000, and the following year she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. She went on to work as a model, actress and television news anchor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (AP2000)

In this photo taken on Sept. 9, 2000, Eva Ekvall reacts after winning the Miss Venezuela 2000 beauty pageant in Caracas, Venezuela. Ekvall, whose struggle with breast cancer was closely followed by Venezuelans, has died at age 28. Her family said Ekvall died Saturday Dec. 17 at a hospital in Houston. Ekvall was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000, and the following year she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. She went on to work as a model, actress and television news anchor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (AP2000)

FILE - In this May 11, 2001 file photo, Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall, second from left, stands with other contestants as they wait for the announcement of the winner in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Ekvall has died on Saturday Dec. 17 of cancer in Houston at age 28. The Venezuelan television channel Globovision reports that Ekvall died on Saturday in a Houston hospital after a long struggle with breast cancer. At age 18, Ekvall was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. She was a model, actress and television news anchor. Also in the photo are Miss India Celina Jaitly, Miss Puerto Rico Denise Quinones, Miss Greece Evelina Papantoniou and Miss U.S.A. Kandace Krueger. (AP Photo/Tomas van Houtryve, File)