Hunger strike gets girl ticket to wedding

• Tweet

MEXICO CITY, April 23 (UPI) -- A Mexican teenager who went on a hunger strike in February hoping it would get her an invite to the royal wedding will go to the ceremony, officials said.

Estibalis Chavez, 19, started her strike outside the British Embassy in Mexico City after being told by British officials there were no more invitations available for the wedding, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Octavio Fitch Lazo, a wealthy Mexican lobbyist, agreed to give Chavez money for the flight, but she will have to remain outside Westminster Abbey while the ceremony takes place.

"It moved me to see that no one understood her very well. … I think she is right to fight for what she wants," Lazo said.

Chavez reportedly lost 17 pounds during her hunger strike. She said she developed an interest in the royal family after learning her mother, who died when she was born, liked Princess Diana.

"[People] said I risked my health for something many believe to be frivolous and silly. But, I think that for me, it was the only way to achieve my goal," Chavez said.