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."

Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders took pills to cope wtih cancer battle

The comedienne, 53 ? now in remission ? told how drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy left her "drained and exhausted".

She said: "It's like suddenly becoming older.

"You feel fagged out, you lose your motor and it makes you feel depressed.

"You have that 'I want to go to bed and sleep for ever' kind of feeling."

The French and Saunders funnygirl ? interviewed in the Radio Times ? said that just as she was at her lowest ebb she was also hit by the menopause.

She described it as "like jumping off a cliff" ? and she felt "the whole world" was against her.

The mum of three, who is married to comic Ade Edmondson, was persuaded to seek help for her mental problems.

She described the medication she was prescribed as "brilliant".

Jennifer was also buoyed by teaming up again with Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley, 65, for three Christmas episodes of the smash BBC sitcom.

She now ensures her daughters Ella, 25, Beattie, 24, and Freya, 21, get yearly mammograms ? telling them: "Just do it."

I'm a Celebrity 2011: Mark and Dougie to fight it out for I'm A Celeb crown, but the battle is close as they're neck and neck in the polls

Mark Wright and Emily Scott may have set tongues wagging with their jungle flirtations, but it's fair to say Mark's attention has shifted since her departure.

He and McFly bass player Dougie have seen their unlikely friendship go from strength to strength, but it is about to face its greatest test yet.

With Antony and Fatima were voted out, the best buddies have been left to fight it out for the crown in the final, airing tonight.

And all that man love flying about the jungle has certainly had an impact on the viewers, as the pair are currently neck and neck in our very own Daily mail poll.

Will he win? Mark Wright has made it to the final of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here

'Bosom buddies': Dougie will be up against his friend Mark in tomorrow's grand final

Only one of the young stars will be named King of the jungle but no doubt there will be 'no hard feelings' when the winner is announced tomorrow.

The Only Way Is Essex star Mark seemed to agree and revealed he's made some true friends.

'Dougie will be a friend for life but when I first met Antony I didn’t know if I’d get on with him as much as I did,' he said.

'When Emily came into the camp I thought she’s hot, she’s a true fighter, if I get out and we gel then who knows what might happen.'

He then went on to say how much he'd missed his family whilst being in the jungle but was glad that he did it.

'It makes me emotional thinking about it because it has been the most wonderful experience.

'I’m proud and honoured every day that goes by I’ve won, every vote that’s been given me, I’ve won.'

Obvious award: Mark won his prize for having the Best Body

Dougie admitted that he wasn't sure he'd made the right decision by going on the show, but added he couldn't have been more wrong.

'I was super nervous and I thought, "what am I doing?" I have nothing in common with these people," and I didn’t expect to get on with many of the others.

'I’ve met people that I’ll be friends with for a long time. I thought I wouldn’t get on with Mark but it’s awesome hanging out with him. 

Smelly winner: Dougie won the award for being the Most Grubbiest camp mate

'The experience has been amazing, wicked, everything about the jungle is amazing. Anyone who gets the chance, should do it, it’s the coolest thing ever.'

Mark's best friend and TOWIE wingman James 'Arg' Argent might be the best person to give Dougie an indication of what he can expect should his friendship with Mark continue outside the jungle.

Arg has been looking forward to a reunion with his best mate - and a return to their favourite boys' nights, a hugely embarrassing secret he keeps from all ladyfriends.

The Essex singer confessed in an interview with the Mirror: 'Mark’s big secret is his lads’ sleepovers – he’ll be so embarrassed now his girlfriends have found out. We’ve always done them and the last was about a month ago.'

Missing his family: Mark began to cry when his letter from his family was read out to him

'We share a bed and watch a movie – last time we saw the Disney film The Mighty Ducks on DVD.'
Despite his natual envy of Dougie spending so much time with Mark, Arg enthusiastically showed his support for Mark, gushig: 'I’m confident he’ll be the King of the Jungle.'

Emotional Mark was rather overwhelmed when he heard a letter from his family yesterday, having admitted on several occasions just how much he missed them.

'We are so proud of you and everyone is missing you and sending their love and kisses,' they wrote.

Getting emotional: The McFly star got quite upset as his letter from his band mate and girlfriend was read out

 'You have done everything that we hoped you would; you are a true gentleman and a courageous and fun-loving boy.

'We are all willing you to win but you are already a winner in our eyes.  Everyone is voting for you at home and so many are saying that you have surprised them and that they feel they are seeing the real Mark.

 'We miss you and love.  TEAM MARK! TEAM MARK!'

Wiping away his tears, Mark said: 'Every day I’ve been waiting to hear from my family. I speak to my mum and dad about ten times a day so to receive a letter saying how they are feeling about me couldn’t be more emotional and meant the world. I’ll save that letter to the day I die.'

McFly star Dougie was the last one to hear his letter - which had been written in two segments by his band mate, Tom Fletcher, and his girlfriend.

His partner, Lara, wrote: 'Oi oi Captain, Tom says I have to say something cringy now to see if I can make you cry.

Testing times: Dougie was covered with fly pupae for a bushtucker trial on his 24th birthday...

... but best mate Mark was there to greet him when Dougie returned triumphantly to camp

'So, meeting you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You truly are the most special person I know and I’m hook line and sinker in love with you.

'However, if you dump me for your new man friend Mark I will slap you round the face with a wet fish. You have been warned.

Love your fellow finger clicker. X Lots of love, Tom, Gi and Lara.

 

Dougie seemed really chuffed with his letter and said afterwards: 'That letter beats any present and I will keep that letter for the rest of my life.'

But Antony couldn't let a day go by without a moan about Fatima, and as she began bossing Mark and Dougie about Antony told them that they should stick up for themselves.

'People are trying to take control of the camp as a ploy to get to the final,' Mark said.

'She’s cutting us down all the time and making us feel bad.'

(Fe)male bonging: Back when the girls were in camp.  Mark borrowed Jessica-Jane's coconut bra

Dougie agreed, saying: 'Antony and Fatima have different ways of running the camp; it’s like a time bomb waiting to explode.'

Mark and Dougie have been rather more supportive of each other than their bickering former camp mates, as was evident after Dougie endured a bushtucker trial in lieu of a 24th birthday party.

Mark suggested Dougie do the rial to mark his special day- though his pal wasn't so sure about doing it at first.

Dougie rallied however, declaring: 'I have to do relatively well as everyone is bumming out today.'

Not to be outdone: Dougie got in on the cross-dressing action, modelling her leopard-print bra

After a gruesome ordeal which saw Dougie consume fly pupae, Dougie returned to camp triumphant, where Mark greeted him with open arms.

Mark and Dougie have been of one mind from the beginning- even when it comes to slightly less serious matters.

Back when the girls were still in camp, it appeared Mark was becoming jealous of all the attention Emily Scott and Jessica-Jane Clement's buxom bodies were getting.

Dougie teamed up with his friend to try ad win back some of the limelight, giving Jessica-Jane's leopard print bra a test run while Mark donned her coconut bra.