A former Florida beauty queen was killed by the devastating earthquakes that shook Venezuela last week, her family confirmed Monday after she was found lying side-by-side with her boyfriend underneath the rubble of their building. <\/p>\n
Skarlent Rodr\u00edguez, 23, and her boyfriend Jos\u00e9 Castro had been missing for several days after their apartment building in the heavily damaged region of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state collapsed during one of the June 24 earthquakes, HOLA!<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Skarlent Rodr\u00edguez, who was crowned Miss Grand Orlando last year, was found dead, buried in the rubble of her apartment building next to her boyfriend following the June 24 earthquakes. Skarlent Rodriguez\/Instagram<\/p>\n Following an extensive search-and-rescue effort, the bodies of Rodr\u00edguez and Castro were recovered on Monday, lying together buried beneath the rubble of their building, the Rodr\u00edguez and Castro families announced on their joint GoFundMe<\/a> page.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, they were both found dead\u2026side by side, together until the very end,\u201d the two grief-stricken families wrote on the fundraiser.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no words to describe the pain we are living,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, they were both found dead\u2026side by side, together until the very end,\u201d the two grief-stricken families of the couple wrote on the fundraiser.\u00a0 GoFundMe<\/p>\n Heartbreakingly, Castro\u2019s father, grandmother, uncle and aunt also died in the devastating disaster throughout Venezuela.<\/p>\n Rodr\u00edguez, who hails from the South American country, began gaining international recognition after being crowned Miss Grand Orlando in Florida\u2019s competition last year.<\/p>\n While she didn\u2019t walk away with the Miss Grand Florida title, the 23-year-old became a recognizable figure within the pageant community and was praised for her dedication to modeling and public appearances, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n The young couple lived in the region of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state, which was one of the areas hit the hardest by the earthquakes. GoFundMe<\/p>\n The Miss Grand Florida organization mourned the loss of the rising beauty queen on social media<\/a>, reflecting on her \u201cradiant smile, warm spirit, and unwavering positivity [that] touched everyone she encountered, both on and off the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe will be remembered not only for her beauty and accomplishments but also for the way she uplifted others and carried herself with dignity and light,\u201d the organization continued.<\/p>\n Rodr\u00edguez, who hails from Venezuela, began gaining international recognition after being crowned Miss Grand Orlando last year. Skarlent Rodriguez\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cHer legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of her fellow queens, judges, directors, and all members of the Miss Grand Florida family.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the catastrophic earthquakes on June 24, Venezuelan authorities confirmed that at least 1,719 people have died,<\/a> with some 5,000 more injured.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t