• Viral video appears to show influencer Nicole “La Nicholette” Pardo being forced into a vehicle at gunpoint.
  • Pardo was last seen Jan. 20 in the Isla Musalá neighborhood of Culiacán, Sinaloa.
  • Sinaloa authorities have issued a missing-persons bulletin and say they are tracking vehicles tied to the case.
  • US and Arizona officials say they are monitoring the situation and stand ready to assist.

H2: What happened

A viral video circulating online appears to show several armed men forcing 20-year-old Nicole “La Nicholette” Pardo into another car in broad daylight. CNN geolocated the footage to the Isla Musalá neighborhood of Culiacán, the capital of the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Footage purportedly filmed by cameras on Pardo’s lilac Tesla Cybertruck shows the abduction-like encounter. Mexican authorities say Pardo was last seen on January 20. The Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office has issued a missing-persons bulletin and released images of Pardo tied to the investigation.

Embedded video: Viral footage (0:40) purportedly shows the abduction — source: CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/americas/us-mexico-influencer-abducted-gunpoint-latam-intl).

H3: Authorities’ response

Sinaloa state officials say the vehicles allegedly involved are being tracked and that they alerted federal authorities immediately. Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said state and federal teams are coordinating and that authorities will provide details as the investigation progresses.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said it is aware of reports and is monitoring the situation; the department said it stands ready to provide consular assistance if needed. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office told CNN that Mexican authorities have not formally asked for collaboration but that it is ready to assist.

H3: Who is Nicole “La Nicholette” Pardo?

Pardo is an online content creator with a significant following. Public figures and records indicate she split time between Culiacán and Phoenix, Arizona, and she has an address in Phoenix. Her social media reach includes more than 180,000 Instagram followers and over 145,000 on TikTok. She also maintained a YouTube channel and an OnlyFans account.

Her social posts frequently highlighted luxury purchases and local events, including the Saladazo, a motorized route south of Culiacán. Pardo is featured in the 2022 corrido “La Muchacha del Salado” by Grupo Arriesgado, which has amassed millions of views.

H3: Context — violence and disappearances in Sinaloa

Pardo’s disappearance occurs amid rising violence against women in Sinaloa and across Mexico. Official figures show Sinaloa recorded 72 femicides in 2025, more than double the 31 cases reported in 2024. A national register lists about 132,000 disappearances since 1952, with roughly 7,000 recorded in Sinaloa.

H3: What we know and what’s next

Investigations are ongoing. Authorities say the vehicles tied to the incident are being followed and details will be released as they develop. CNN and other outlets have contacted Sinaloa and US officials for confirmation and further information.

Anyone with information is urged to contact local authorities. Updates are expected as law enforcement continues the search.

Image Referance: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/americas/us-mexico-influencer-abducted-gunpoint-latam-intl