A pioneering news anchor has died after a long battle with colon cancer.
Bianca Gambino passed away at a clinic in Bogotá on Sunday (10 May) morning.
The 52-year-old broadcaster fought a two-year battle with colon cancer in private.
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The Colombian media industry has paid tribute to her trailblazing career.
Bianca secured her place in TV history in 1999 as the first presenter to appear on screen for CityNoticias, the flagship news programme for the channel Citytv.
Her empathetic style helped to revolutionise broadcasting in the country, earning her the prestigious Simón Bolívar National Journalism Award for Best News Presenter.
A Citytv spokesperson said: “Bianca was more than a presenter; she was the face of a new era in Colombian news.”
A graduate in journalism from the Universidad de La Sabana with a master’s from Universidad del Rosario, she began her career in radio at RCN.
She enjoyed a long career at leading outlets including Citytv, CM& and across Colombia’s national news networks.
In recent months, she stepped away from the public eye to focus on her health, maintaining a dignified silence regarding the severity of her condition.
Close friends revealed that she spent her final weeks surrounded by family, remaining “optimistic and full of grace” despite her declining health.
Medical sources confirmed that the cause of death was complications arising from advanced colon cancer.
Social media has been flooded with messages of condolence from viewers who grew up watching her.
Many used the hashtag ‘GraciasBianca’ to honour her legacy, as reported by Need To Know.
Her funeral service is expected to take place in Bogotá later this week, with several news networks planning special broadcasts to commemorate her life.
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