She never ever stopped fighting.
Now, California beauty queen Andrea Andrade has died, nine years after she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
In a heartbreaking Instagram post, her husband shared his grief, writing: “My eternal love. I know this isn’t goodbye.”
Reshaped her life
Colon cancer is now claiming more young lives in the U.S. than any other form of cancer. While overall cancer death rates among Americans under 50 are declining, deaths linked to colorectal cancer continue to rise — a deeply troubling trend.
But statistics only tell part of the story. Behind these alarming numbers are real people of flesh and blood, with families, friends, children, and loved ones whose lives are forever changed.
One of those lives was Andrea Andrade, who tragically lost her life after a long and devastating battle with the disease. The California beauty queen refused to let cancer define her, even when doctors first warned she might only have months left.
Andrea Andrade passed away on January 16, following a long and courageous battle with colon cancer.
She was first diagnosed with stage 3 disease in 2017, a moment that reshaped her life but never dimmed her determination, according to reports from the Fresno Bee and Your Central Valley, both of which spoke with her husband, Chris Wilson.
In a deeply emotional tribute shared on Instagram, Wilson wrote: “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.”
The couple spent eight years together, including two as husband and wife. Wilson has since spoken openly about how profoundly Andrade changed his life.
“I was punching above my weight class for sure,” he said. “I was so surprised she ever gave me a shot. But what I realized really quickly was her authenticity.”
He added, “I fell in love with her soul and what made her who she was: positive, encouraging. I was her biggest fan and she was my biggest fan. She gave me confidence. She believed in me. And for her to love me the way she did, I’m forever grateful.”
When Andrade was diagnosed, doctors warned she had just six months to two years to live. Instead, she defied every expectation, surviving nine more years. Those years she filled with purpose, achievement, and service to others.
A decorated beauty queen, Andrade claimed five titles over the course of her life, including Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West, and Miss California Congeniality. Yet those close to her say crowns were never her true priority.
Inspired by a young boy she met who wore a superhero costume to chemotherapy, Andrade and Wilson founded “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” a program dedicated to bringing joy to hospitalized children. Together, they visited hospitals dressed as superheroes, often accompanied by mascots and characters, delivering gifts and moments of happiness during unimaginable hardship.
Declined sharply
“This time of year is always bitter sweet for me. I love seeing the smiles but I know the pain these children and their families are going through, and it always hurts my heart,” Andrade wrote in an April 2025 Instagram post. “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!”
Wilson later reflected on how meaningful the work was to her, saying, “She said it was one of her most rewarding things of her entire life. She felt it was a great way to put a smile on families’ faces during what had to be challenging times.”
Although Andrade went into remission at one point, the cancer later returned, spreading to her reproductive system and advancing to stage 4. Her health declined sharply in October, and while she managed to spend the holidays with loved ones, she was hospitalized shortly after Christmas.
In a 2017 interview with Inside Edition, Andrade spoke candidly about her fears and her love for her family, saying, “I look at my parents. I am thinking, ‘I am their only daughter,’ and I think, ‘What would they do without me?’”
She also explained why she chose to continue chasing her dreams despite her diagnosis. Through it all, Wilson said one thing never changed: “She never, never stopped fighting. She was just so inspirational to so many people.”
Andrea’s first symptoms
One of the biggest challenges with colon cancer is that symptoms can often be subtle, or may not appear at all until the disease has progressed, making it more aggressive and harder to treat. Common warning signs include abdominal pain and blood in the stool, especially in younger adults.
Other symptoms to watch for are changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, and a decreased appetite. Less common signs may include fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and rectal bleeding. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Andrea’s symptoms began when she was just 26. During a trip to Mexico with her grandmother to visit family, she started experiencing severe, cramp-like pains and heavy bleeding. At the time, this didn’t seem unusual — Andrea had a history of irregular bleeding and had been diagnosed with endometriosis years earlier, so the pain felt familiar.
“Given my age, I now realize why doctors would never suspect cancer,” Andrea later reflected.
The pain, however, became unbearable. She and her grandmother rushed to the hospital, where doctors revealed that Andrea had lost three pints of blood.
They didn’t have enough donated blood to give her a transfusion and warned that she likely wouldn’t survive the night. Her grandmother called her parents to say their goodbyes.
But Andrea’s father refused to accept that fate. He insisted the medical team do everything possible to save her.
“My parents brought in truckloads of people from my little town to donate blood. And we finally got enough blood to where I could get the transfusion,” Andrea said.
After running a series of tests, the doctors delivered the life-changing diagnosis: Andrea had stage III colon cancer.
While undergoing treatment, Andrea’s aunt told her something that stayed with her: “God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors.” That phrase is now engraved on the chemotherapy bell Andrea donated to a new cancer center in Fresno. Patients ring the bell when they finish treatment, marking a moment of triumph. Sadly, Andrea herself will never get to see her life’s work in action.
Andrea Andrade is survived by her husband, her parents, her older brother Junior, and her two younger brothers, Eric and Jose.
Her fight may be over — but her impact, by every account, will endure. Rest in Peace, Andrea.
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