Lorena Rojas (Photo : Instagram)
Mexican actress Lorena Rojas, who starred in several Latino soap operas and films, has died of cancer at age 44.
The "Rosario" star passed away on Feb. 16, Monday at her Miami home, surrounded by her family, boyfriend and closest friends, according to her talent agency Latin World Entertainment.
The actress had been battling breast cancer since 2008. In 2013, she revealed to Mexican news agency Notimex that her disease was "chronic" after her tumor had spread to her other body organs. It eventually reached her liver in 2014, according to The Independent.
While her several years of battle with the disease had been chronicled, Rojas had remained tight-lipped about her struggle and the many obstacles she faced, the Latin Times stated.
The beloved star, who became famous for leading some Mexican telenovelas including "El Cuerpo del Deseo," died barely a week after celebrating her 44th birthday on Feb. 10. In her last message to fans over Twitter, Rojas expressed her gratitude for their well-wishes on her birthday.
The news of her untimely death has rocked the Latin American entertainment industry, with a number of stars posting messages of condolences on Twitter.
"Como la primera vez que te conocí, llena de luz, así te recordaré . Lorena Rojas," Grammy Award-winning singer Ricardo Arjona tweeted, which translates to, "As the first time I met you, full of light, that is how I'll remember you Lorena Rojas."
"Lorena takes a step into eternal life leaving as her greatest legacy the love for animals and for art in all its forms, her tender devotion to her daughter, her passion for life, the appreciation of all her Lobitas and fans who she loved until the end," her agent Latin WE said on a statement.
