Colombian Glam Influencer Kataleya Murdered During Army Clash With Rebels

A glamorous social media influencer identified as Johana Carolina Correa Garzón, popularly known as Kataleya, has reportedly been killed following a violent clash between Colombian security forces and FARC dissident fighters.

Reports indicate that her death occurred during a confrontation between the military and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissident faction last week. The incident is said to have taken place in a mountainous border area near Ecuador and Peru — a region widely known as a major corridor for drug trafficking activities.

FARC officially laid down arms in 2017 after signing a historic peace agreement with the Colombian government in 2016. However, some fighters refused to demobilize and continued operating independently, forming dissident groups focused largely on territorial control and illicit businesses rather than the movement’s original Marxist ideology.

Before her death, Kataleya had built a strong online presence by sharing content that showcased her lifestyle within the dissident group, which drew both attention and controversy on social media.

Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the clash. However, Colombian security forces are known to conduct frequent military operations against dissident groups across the region.

According to Colombian NGO Indepaz, FARC dissident groups were estimated to have about 4,500 members as of September 2023.