'Best daughter in the world': Ariana Viera's mom heartbroken over beauty queen's death in Florida
Venezuelan beauty queen killed in crash
Venezuelan beauty queen and model Ariana Viera has died after she was involved in a car crash with a semi-truck in Orlando in July – and months before she was reportedly planning to represent Venezuela in an international beauty pageant, according to officials and local media reports. The Florida Highway Patrol said the deadly crash happened on July 13 on Boggy Creek Road and J. Lawson Boulevard in Orlando, a few miles south of the Orlando International Airport.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Vivian Ochoa, the mother of professional model Ariana Viera, remembered her late daughter as the "best daughter in the world." Viera was killed in a car crash last month south of Orlando International Airport in Florida.
"The best daughter in the world. The best. The best," she said during a Zoom interview with FOX 35 on Friday afternoon. "She is my soul and half my soul is gone."
Dozens of people posted tributes to Viera's social media accounts, saddened by the news of her death. Viera participated in several fashion shows in the Orlando area and often posted photos of various modeling gigs, according to her social media accounts.
While she never won a "Miss Venezuela" title, her mom said Viera had been selected to represent her country in an upcoming beauty pageant.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the deadly crash happened on July 13 on Boggy Creek Road and J. Lawson Blvd., which is a few miles south of Orlando International Airport. Viera's vehicle crashed into the back of a semi, which had slowed down while approaching a red light.
FHP said in its report that Viera failed to slow down, collided with the semi, and then veered off the roadway. She was wearing her seatbelt and the vehicle's airbags did deploy during the crash, according to the report. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.
Viera’s mother said her daughter was beautiful inside and out, loved to help others in the community, and inspire young girls. She not only modeled, but she also worked as a dental assistant in Lake Nona and was educating herself in dental school.
"My daughter is a good person. An angel," Viera’s mom said. "She helped people who didn’t believe in themselves. She always helped everyone."
The family held a memorial this past week and says people came in droves to pay their respects to the woman who died too soon. Her mom is still grappling with her loss.
"I don’t have words," Ochoa said. "It feels like a bad dream."