US OnlyFans Model Found Safe After Dramatic Kidnapping in Mexico
Nicole 'La Nicholette' Pardo Molina, the 20-year-old OnlyFans model who was abducted at gunpoint in Mexico last week, has been found safe according to Mexican authorities. The US dual national, who splits her time between Phoenix, Arizona and Culiacán, Mexico, was located "thanks to citizen collaboration" after days of uncertainty about her whereabouts.
Dramatic Abduction Captured on Camera
The terrifying incident occurred last Tuesday in front of a shopping centre in Culiacán, the capital city of Sinaloa state. Dramatic footage captured by security cameras in Molina's distinctive purple Tesla Cybertruck showed the moment her vehicle was disabled by tire spikes. When she stepped out, a gunman concealing his face with a black and red sweater jumped from a white Toyota Corolla and grabbed her at gunpoint.
The assailant and an accomplice then forced Molina into the backseat of the Corolla before speeding away from the scene. The video quickly went viral, bringing international attention to the case and raising serious concerns about her safety.
Alleged Cartel Connections and Business Ventures
According to multiple reports, Molina had allegedly been selling merchandise bearing the image of notorious drug cartel leader Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán and other cartel figures before her disappearance. The content creator reportedly began pursuing business ventures in Mexico after dropping out of school following the COVID-19 pandemic.
While investigators are probing whether the kidnapping is related to ongoing turf wars between rival gangs, authorities have noted that Molina had no known links to cartels before the incident. Culiacán is considered an extremely dangerous area controlled by a rival faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which El Chapo once led.
Authorities Respond and Locate Missing Model
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed on Thursday that authorities were tracking the vehicle involved in the kidnapping and that federal authorities had been alerted to the situation. The Attorney General's Office of the State of Sinaloa announced Molina's safe location on Saturday, ending days of confusion about her fate.
During the search, authorities had warned that her safety was at serious risk and that she "could be a victim of a crime." The successful resolution of the case comes amid growing concerns about violence against women in Mexico.
Broader Context of Violence in Mexico
The kidnapping occurs against a backdrop of escalating violence in Mexico, particularly affecting women. According to the International Federation for Human Rights, 3,601 women were reported missing in Mexico in 2024 alone - representing a 40 percent increase from the previous year. In 2025, hundreds of women were kidnapped or disappeared just in Sinaloa state.
Other social media influencers have also fallen victim to cartel violence in recent years. In May, fashion model Valeria Marquez, who had more than 600,000 Instagram followers, was shot dead during a livestream.
Molina's Online Presence and Cultural Recognition
Molina maintains a significant online presence, flaunting her glamorous lifestyle to her 180,000 Instagram followers and more than 145,000 TikTok followers. She has also achieved a degree of cultural recognition, being named in the 2022 corrido song 'La Muchacha del Salado' by Grupo Arriesgado.
Investigators are continuing their probe into the kidnapping, with some suggesting the shooter may have ties to the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel based in Jalisco. The case highlights the ongoing security challenges in regions of Mexico and the risks faced by those operating in areas controlled by criminal organisations.
