Kosovo beauty queen Güler Erdoğan dies at 27 after fall from bridge during alleged police chase

By Linh Le April 23, 2025 | 01:27 am PT

Güler Erdoğan, who held the title of Miss Freedom of Balkan 2022, has died at the age of 27 after falling from an overpass in northeastern Turkey, reportedly while fleeing from police.

Güler Erdoğan, crowned Miss Freedom of Balkan 2022. Photo from Erdoğan's Facebook

Citing Turkish media outlets including CNN Türk, Hürriyet, and NTV, People magazine reported that Erdoğan was driving in the city of Giresun after a night out with a friend when she approached a police checkpoint. Allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Erdoğan reportedly abandoned her car and attempted to flee the scene on foot before falling from an overpass onto the road below.

Missosology, a beauty pageant news site, reported that Erdoğan’s blood alcohol level was 1.70 mg/100 ml—more than three times Turkey’s legal limit.

Emergency services arrived quickly, but Erdoğan was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been in Giresun with her family for the Ramadan holiday.

Following her death, all content on her Instagram account was deleted and replaced with a single message.

"Do not believe the baseless news and information that has been released regarding the death of our sister, friend Güler Erdoğan," the statement read. "Our sister lost her life in a tragic accident.We were with her family at the time of the incident."

People magazine reported that it had contacted the Turkish National Police and the Miss Europe organization for comment but had not received a response.