Key Takeaways
- Family and friends laid LaToya Malcolm to rest in Kingston, Jamaica, one month after the former Miss Universe Jamaica finalist died at 35.
- Malcolm spent more than a decade as an actress, entertainer, and dance instructor, and won the 2024 Miss Jamaica Bikini International crown after dedicating her victory to her late father.
- Miss Universe Jamaica and Gabrielle Henry honored Malcolm’s passion and community impact, saying her voice and legacy would not be forgotten.
LaToya Malcolm has been laid to rest one month after her death at 35. Family and friends gathered Saturday, August 22, at Central Assemblies of God church in Kingston, Jamaica, to say goodbye to the former Miss Universe Jamaica finalist, actress, dancer, and pageant titleholder.
According to a memorial announcement shared by a family member with People, Malcolm's funeral service began at 10 a.m. The message on the program captured how her loved ones are remembering her: “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”
The service came just over a month after Malcolm died on July 17. Miss Universe Jamaica announced her death the following day, paying tribute to the woman who competed as a finalist in its 2024 competition.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Miss Universe Jamaica alumna LaToya Malcolm,” the organization said at the time, adding, “Our heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends, and loved ones.”
Malcolm had spent more than a decade working in Jamaica’s entertainment industry as an actress and entertainer, according to the pageant organization. She was also a dance instructor and worked with the Transition Project, an initiative providing young people with training and resources as they pursued new opportunities. Her pageant career included another major accomplishment in 2024, when she won the Miss Jamaica Bikini International crown.
That victory carried particular significance for Malcolm. Her father had died earlier that year, but she continued training and ultimately won the title. “My beloved father, Mr. Malcolm, this win was for you,” she wrote on Instagram after her victory. “Your one and only daughter continues to make you proud. I know you’re smiling down on me from heaven.”
Malcolm’s death prompted tributes throughout Jamaica’s pageant community, including from current Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry. Reflecting on Malcolm’s life, Henry wrote that she had learned the importance of remembering people who “lived fully, unapologetically and with great passion.”
“To hear of Latoya’s passing is a great loss to her family and the wider community, Jamaica,” Henry continued. “Her impact will always be remembered and her voice will not be forgotten.”
Malcolm’s funeral also comes during a period of repeated loss within the wider Miss Universe community. Former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant Tyra Spaulding died at 26 in September 2025 after publicly discussing her struggles with suicidal thoughts.
More recently, 23-year-old Miss Universe Tegucigalpa runner-up Wualys Aquino was found dead in her Honduras apartment in July. Authorities opened an investigation into Aquino’s death, with an autopsy underway to determine the cause.
