Mexican influencer kidnapped in Sinaloa; car camera records attack
Mexican influencer Nicole Pardo Molina, known online as “La Nicholette,” was kidnapped in broad daylight in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa. File Photo by Ulises Ruiz Basurto/EPA
Jan. 23 (UPI) — Mexican influencer Nicole Pardo Molina, known online as “La Nicholette,” was kidnapped in broad daylight Tuesday in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, one of the regions most affected by violence linked to organized crime.
The abduction occurred in the afternoon as the content creator exited her vehicle and was intercepted by several armed men who forced her into another car, according to authorities and local media.
The attack was captured by the security camera of her Tesla Cybertruck. Footage that quickly spread on social media shows a masked man carrying a long gun blocking her path while another individual forces the woman into a white sedan.
Following the report, the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office said it opened an investigation and activated search protocols for a disappearance under violent circumstances. In an official statement, prosecutors warned that “the victim’s physical integrity could be at risk.”
Mexican Army personnel were deployed to the area, though authorities have not reported any arrests or released official information on the influencer’s whereabouts.
Sinaloa is widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most violent states and has long been identified as a stronghold of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the country’s most powerful criminal groups. The state records high levels of homicides, kidnappings and other high-impact crimes amid internal disputes and ongoing federal security operations.
La Nicholette, 25, has more than 160,000 followers on Instagram and over 100,000 on TikTok, where she shares lifestyle content focused on business ventures and luxury vehicles. She is also active on Twitch, YouTube, Snapchat and OnlyFans.
According to reports, the influencer has ties to Phoenix, where she spends part of the year. Her public profile expanded in 2023 following the release of the corrido “La Muchacha del Salado,” performed by Grupo Arriesgado. Corridos are a traditional Mexican music genre that narrates social stories and, in recent years, has been used to portray figures linked to the drug trade.
The case has sparked concern in both Mexico and the United States, where followers and social media users are calling for progress in the investigation amid persistent violence in the country’s northwest.