Beauty Queen Loses High-Profile Cancer Battle

The beauty queen was crowned Miss Venezuela at the age of 17 in 2000, and the following year she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.

Miss Ekvall, who also worked as an actress and TV presenter, wrote a book, Fuera de Foco (Out of Focus), about her struggle with cancer, which included images by Venezuelan photographer Roberto Mata.

I hate to see photos in which I come out ugly. But you know what? Nobody ever said cancer is pretty or that I should look like Miss Venezuela when I have cancer.

Eva Ekvall 

In an interview last year, she told the newspaper El Nacional: "I needed to send the message of the need for cancer prevention."

Her cover portrait showed her without makeup and her head shaved. The book also included images of her while going through chemotherapy.

"I hate to see photos in which I come out ugly," she said at the time. "But you know what? Nobody ever said cancer is pretty or that I should look like Miss Venezuela when I have cancer."

In her book, Ms Ekvall described her joy at the birth of her daughter saying: "that happiness, although (the daughter) may not know it or understand it, keeps me alive today."

The book included emails that she wrote to friends providing updates on her treatment and thanking them for their support, as well as short essays by relatives and friends reflecting on her ordeal.

Her father, Eric Ekvall, recalled in the book that his mother, also named Eva, had died of the same type of cancer at age 39.

"Those who know Eva know she doesn't give up," he wrote of his daughter. "She fights for what she wants."

Ms Ekvall's remains were cremated in Houston, where she was in hospital, and are being taken home to Venezuela where her funeral will be held.

Although her mother is Jamaican and her father is American of Swedish and Hungarian descent, she once said: "I feel more Venezuelan than anybody."

Her husband posted a photo on Twitter on Sunday of a close-up of his hand holding hers, resting on a bed, with the words "Always together ... I love you wife."

QUEEN & GAGA FOR BOND THEME

IT could be a licence to thrill for Queen and Lady GaGa if James Bond head honchos have their way.

Composer David Arnold, who has penned the past five 007 film soundtracks, would love Queen to have a go at writing a theme tune for next year’s Skyfall starring Daniel Craig.

David, 49, told me: “I’m a massive Queen fan and I would love them to do a theme tune.

“Imagine how ridiculously bombastic a Queen anthem could be. It’s a shame because they would have been perfect for Roger Moore’s Bond during the 80s when he was punching clowns.”

Any possibility of a Queen song today could rest with Lady GaGa, 25, who guitarist Brian May, 64, would love to see fill in for much-missed Freddie Mercury.

The cloud-haired axeman, 64, told me recently: “We still hope to do something with GaGa in the future.

“We’ve been close to doing something for TV before – she is an inspiration.”

Bookmakers Paddy Power have Rihanna, 23, as fav­ourite to record the song at 6-1.

But they are already offering odds of 25-1 for a Queen/Lady GaGa collaboration for Skyfall, which hits cinemas in October 2012.

One thing’s for sure, rum­oured theme tune singers Adele, 23, and Noel Gallagher have not been app­roached to do the music yet.

Arnold, who also soundtracked 2007’s Quantum Of Solace told me: “I’ve heard the Adele rumours but nobody has been asked yet.

“Traditionally producers wait for the film to be made, or if I’m asked I’ll have somebody in mind.”

Noel, 44, shot down the rum­ours, saying: “I don’t know where you’ve seen a story about me being off­ered the job of penning the tune.”

Meanwhile Arnold has been talking to Simon Cowell, 54, about adding a Bond-themed evening to next year’s X Factor.

He revealed: “I’ve spoken to Simon about doing an X Factor Bond special before.

“We would love to try it but it’s difficult finding the right Bond songs for people to sing.”

Bond fans are in for a treat next year.