Credit: Paloma Bonilla/Instagram
Paloma Bonilla, a Dominican social media influencer and passionate advocate for the disability community, passed away on April 22 at the age of 38, leaving behind thousands of followers and a legacy defined by resilience, warmth, and a relentless commitment to raising awareness for those living with disabilities.
Her family confirmed the news in a statement shared the same day. “With profound sorrow and sadness, the family of Paloma Bonilla announces her passing,” the announcement read. “Paloma was a person full of light, love, and kindness, whose life left an indelible mark on all those who had the privilege of knowing her. Her memory will live forever in our hearts, as a symbol of affection, strength, and joy.”
Bonilla, who was paraplegic and used a wheelchair, built a dedicated following of over 26,000 on Instagram, where she offered candid glimpses into her daily life sharing moments with her husband, her 19-year-old daughter, and her broader community of followers who looked to her for inspiration and representation.
Her paralysis was the result of a surgery she had undergone more than a decade ago to have rods and screws inserted into her back following the removal of a spinal tumor. According to Dominican outlet Listin Diario, one of the screws allegedly pierced her spinal cord during the procedure, leaving her immobilized from the ribs down.
Bonilla spent years pursuing legal action against the doctor she held responsible. On April 1, just weeks before her death, she announced on Instagram that she had reached a settlement of 1.5 million Dominican pesos approximately $25,000 a figure she described as “absurd given the irreversible damage I suffered.”
She explained that she had accepted the terms not out of Satisfaction, but out of necessity, saying she agreed “because the system had me cornered” and that mounting legal fees had made it impossible to continue fighting in court.
Beyond her personal battle, Bonilla was deeply involved with the organization Eat Without Guilt, where she was described as a cornerstone of the team. Damy Méndez, the group’s CEO, paid tribute to her in a statement following her passing.
“Her light and energy were vital to this project, which thrived on her enthusiasm, love, and commitment,” the statement read. “Paloma is light; now and forever. We will remember her dedication in every post, in every piece of work she did with such excellence and focus.”
She is survived by her husband and daughter.
