Cristina Sanz, ‘Born This Way’ Reality Series Star, Dies At 36

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 14: Cristina Sanz (L) and Angel Callahan attend the "Born This Way" Season 4 Brunch Event at Catch on August 14, 2018 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for A&E Network)

Getty Images for A&E Network

Cristina Sanz, who appeared in Born This Way, A&E’s reality series about adults with Down syndrome, has died.

Sanz’s parents, Mariano and Beatriz, told TMZ that their daughter died of a heart issue after going into cardiac arrest on Monday. The couple also paid tribute to their daughter on Instagram on Wednesday.

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“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our daughter, Cristina, passed away Monday morning. She suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at her Day Program and was rushed to the hospital,” Sanz’s parents wrote on their daughter’s Instagram page.

“Despite the doctors’ best efforts to stabilize her heart, she did not survive. We are grateful that we were able to be by her side at the end,” the post continued. “Her death was a total shock and unexpected. We will forever treasure the gift of her life. We will all carry in our hearts the wonderful ‘Cristina moments’ that she gave us.’

Sanz appeared on seven episodes of A&E Network’s Born This Way from 2015 to 2016. Among other things, the series chronicled Sanz’s relationship with her husband, Angel. Sadly, the couple broke up in 2021 amid stresses during the COVID-19 pandemic, TMZ reported.

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‘Born This Way’ Won An Outstanding Unstructed Reality Program Emmy In 2016

Cristina Sanz appeared in six episodes in Season 1 of Born This Way and the first episode of Season 2. The series was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in 2016 and won for Outstanding Unstructed Reality Program.

Overall Born This Way was nominated for 18 Emmys during the show’s run and won three statuettes. The series ended in 2018 after four seasons on the air.

A&E Network paid tribute to Sanz in a statement on Wednesday (via People), that reads, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Cristina Sanz, who touched the hearts of many through her time on Born This Way. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.”

In additon to Born This Way, Sanz appeared on three episodes of the talk show Meet the Biz from 2020 to 2021.