Mexican authorities have launched an urgent search for a popular social media influencer from Phoenix who has been missing for two days in Sinaloa, one of Mexico’s most dangerous states.
Nicole Pardo Molina, 20, known online as La Nicholette, was last seen in a residential neighborhood of Culiacán, according to an official alert issued by the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office. The alert was issued under Protocolo Alba, a system used in Mexico to locate missing women and girls when authorities believe their safety may be at risk.
The alert warns that Pardo Molina could be the victim of a crime.
Concern intensified after video footage began circulating on social media, allegedly showing masked men forcibly abducting a young woman identified as Pardo Molina. In the video, the woman appears to be pulled from a purple Tesla Cybertruck and forced into a white vehicle before being driven away. Authorities have not yet officially verified the footage but are treating the case as high risk.
Culiacán is widely known as the stronghold of the Sinaloa drug cartel and has long been considered one of the most violent cities in Mexico due to ongoing cartel activity, kidnappings, and organized crime.
Pardo Molina is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and is believed to split her time between the Valley and Sinaloa. She gained a significant following on social media platforms, where she frequently shared posts highlighting her lifestyle, fashion, and travel.
At one point, Pardo Molina operated a boutique business in Phoenix near the intersection of Indian School Road and 59th Avenue. A woman who works in the same shopping plaza, and who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the business closed after a break-in.
“I passed by once and saw the business windows broken,” the woman said. “After the windows were broken, she closed her business.”
The woman also expressed concern over the influencer’s disappearance, saying the situation felt especially troubling given Pardo Molina’s age.
“It’s something really bad because I have daughters and I think about my daughters,” she said. “She was very young for this to have happened to her.”
Pardo Molina’s name has also appeared in regional Mexican music, adding another layer of public attention to her case. In 2023, a Mexican band called Grupo Arriesgado released a corrido titled “La Muchacha del Salado” (“The Lady from El Salado”), which references a woman believed to be inspired by La Nicholette.
Corridos are a traditional music genre often used to tell stories involving historical events, social issues, and, in some cases, drug cartels. Lyrics from the song reference a woman “working and risking it in Phoenix,” leading to speculation among listeners about possible connections.
“The corrido literally says that she’s connected to them, but I don’t know,” the plaza worker said. “I don’t know if she was involved in criminal activity.”
Authorities have not indicated that Pardo Molina was involved in any criminal organizations, and no evidence has been released to suggest she had cartel ties. Investigators have not publicly discussed any motive behind her disappearance.
The case has drawn attention on both sides of the border, as family members, followers, and concerned community members continue to share information in hopes of locating her.
Arizona’s Family reached out to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to ask whether U.S. officials are coordinating with Mexican authorities in the investigation. As of publication, officials had not yet responded.
Meanwhile, Mexican authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Nicole Pardo Molina’s whereabouts to contact local law enforcement immediately. Her Protocolo Alba alert remains active as investigators work to determine what happened and where she may have been taken.
