Former Miss Venezuela has passed away in a hospital in Houston, Texas, at age 28, leaving an inspired family and country behind her. After she was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000, she went on to be a runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant, news anchor for Venevision, author and breast cancer advocate.

Ekvall was crowned Miss Venezuela at age 17 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. She also wrote a book, Fuera de Foco ("Out of Focus"), about her struggle with cancer, which included images by photographer Roberto Mata.

Ekvalls family said in a statement Sunday that her remains were being cremated in Houston on Monday and that a service is to be held in Venezuela once her remains are returned to the country. She was married to radio producer John Fabio Bermudez and had a 2-year-old daughter.

What was most defining of the cancer struggles Ekvall sought to convey was a portrait on the books cover in which she appeared with makeup and a shaved head and images of Ekvall inside of the book of her going through chemotherapy.

She was just 17-years-old in 2000 when she received the title Miss Venezuela. Ten years later in February 2010 — at the age of 27 — she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer during her pregnancy with her first and only child, Miranda.

Eva was forced to undergo eight months of treatment including a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. She documented her battle with breast cancer through her book book Fuera de Foco — Spanish for “Out of Focus” — which included photographs of her throughout treatment.

Ekvalls family said in a statement Sunday that her remains were being cremated in Houston on Monday and that a service is to be held in Venezuela once her remains are returned to the country.