Brazilian Influencer Maria Luiza Costa da Silva, 18, Killed in Alleged Stabbing After Carnival Event

4 January 2026

Malu Costa. malu_costantine/Threads

The vibrant promise of a young life was cut tragically short on January 31, 2026, when Maria Luiza Costa da Silva, an 18-year-old social media personality known online as Malu Costantine, was fatally stabbed following a violent altercation in the streets of Recife, Brazil. Maria had built a devoted following of nearly 30,000 on Instagram by sharing aspects of her life, personality and style in a way that resonated with fans across the country, making her untimely death a shock felt far beyond her local community. Authorities and friends alike are struggling to reconcile the senselessness of the events that night with the bright, young woman so many admired online.

The deadly confrontation occurred late on a January weekend, shortly after a pre-Carnival celebration hosted by an event group called Bloco do Papada. According to police reports, Maria and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Gabryel Nascimento da Silva, were leaving a bar in Recife’s lively nightlife district when they unexpectedly encountered Gabryel’s former partner, identified as 21-year-old Kallyne Santos da Silva. What began as a brief conversation quickly spiralled into a heated argument, with eyewitness accounts suggesting emotions ran high and voices were raised as the three stood on the sidewalk in the humid Brazilian night.

Details of the moments that followed remained murky in the early hours after the incident, but local media and police reconstructions suggest that the argument turned physical. Officers told reporters that before anyone could intervene, Kallyne allegedly produced a knife and began attacking Maria, stabbing her multiple times. Gabryel, in an attempt to protect his partner, reportedly stepped in and was also wounded, suffering a stab wound to his thigh during the altercation.

As the chaos unfolded, Maria fought back, allegedly seizing the knife from her attacker and inflicting a single stab wound to Kallyne’s abdomen before collapsing from her own injuries. In the frantic aftermath, a passerby used their private vehicle to rush Gabryel and Maria to a nearby emergency room, but despite the frantic efforts of medical staff, Maria succumbed to her wounds before she could receive full medical attention. Gabryel was treated for his injury and later released from the hospital.

Kallyne fled the scene amid the turmoil but was located by police officers seeking her at a different medical facility where she had gone for treatment of her own injuries. She was detained and transferred to a hospital under custody, where she remained in custody without bond as of early February, while the Civil Police continued to investigate the case as a homicide with elements of attempted homicide. Police spokespeople indicated that the situation appeared to stem from personal tensions and jealousy linked to Gabryel’s former relationship, but stopped short of confirming motive pending further forensic and witness work.

In the wake of Maria’s death, grief spread quickly across social media platforms. Friends, fellow influencers and followers left heartfelt messages on tribute pages and in comment sections, expressing disbelief and sorrow at the loss of someone so young. Many described Maria as vibrant, charismatic and full of life, a young creator whose content celebrated fashion, fun and a zest for life that now feels painfully juxtaposed with the reality of her passing. Tributes poured in not only from Brazil but from users around the world who had discovered her posts and felt connected to her online persona.

The organizers of the Carnival event where the night began released a statement expressing condolences to Maria’s family and friends, lamenting that what was intended to be a joyful time of cultural celebration had ended in tragedy. They emphasised that the violence took place after the official end of the event and stressed their commitment to promoting peace and responsible enjoyment during Carnaval and throughout the year. Their message pointedly distanced the organisation from the confrontation, calling the stabbing an isolated act of violence that did not reflect the community and cultural values they sought to uphold.

For those close to Maria, the shock has been overwhelming. Friends described her as a young woman with a bright future, one who brought energy and warmth to both on-camera moments and real-life gatherings. In online tributes, followers shared memories of Maria’s infectious smile and her creative posts, highlighting how she turned her social media presence into a reflection of her personality bold, expressive and rooted in joy. Many commenters noted that her death at 18 not only underscores the fragility of life but also sparked reflections on interpersonal violence and the ways in which personal disputes can escalate with devastating outcomes.

Social media has been awash with reactions that speak to the broader pain felt by digital communities when young creators pass away far too soon. Users shared screenshots of Maria’s posts, popular outfits she showcased and comments celebrating her beauty and talent, all underscoring how deeply she was woven into the daily scrolls of fans who thought they knew her through short clips and images. The collective mourning served as a stark reminder that behind every smiling online profile is a real person with family, friends and dreams that are abruptly left unfulfilled.

As authorities continue their investigation, police have urged anyone with information about the altercation or subsequent movements of those involved to come forward, hoping to clarify the exact sequence of events that led to such a tragic outcome. Legal experts in Brazil noted that cases involving deadly personal disputes particularly those that arise from relationship tensions are often complex, involving careful analysis of self-defence claims, intent and culpability. The probe into Maria’s death is expected to take time as investigators comb for evidence and interview witnesses.

In the meantime, Maria’s family has asked for privacy as they grieve her loss and make arrangements to honour her memory. The suddenness and violence of her death have left a mark on her community, serving as a painful moment of reflection about how quickly life can change and how deeply personal conflicts can ripple outward to affect countless others. For fans around the world, the death of an influencer like Maria Luiza Costa da Silva is more than just a headline; it is a reminder of the very human stories behind the screens they scroll every day.