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Editor’s Note: This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ star Kailia Posey has tragically died at the age of 16, her mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, announced Monday on Facebook.
“I have no words or thoughts,” she wrote. “A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us some privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My forever baby.”
The family released another statement confirming Posey’s cause of death, saying: “Although she is an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in a moment of impetuousness she made the rash decision to end her life. terrestrial life.
“We are completely devastated as a family and are left with more questions than answers,” the statement continued. “We ask for privacy as we try to find ways to deal with the senseless loss of our beautiful daughter.”
‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ star Kailia Posey has tragically died at the age of 16, her mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, announced Monday on Facebook.
(Facebook/Marcey Posey Gatterman)
‘TODDLERS AND TIARAS’ STAR KAILIA POSEY DEAD AT 16, FAMILY SAYS
Here are a few things to know about the late pageant star.
Posey made her pageant debut as a toddler
Posey debuted on “Toddlers and Tiaras,” the same TLC show that launched Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson’s career.
Posey debuted in 2012 at the age of 5 in an episode called “California Tropic Arizona”.
The TLC show ran for seven seasons and ended in 2016. The show followed families as their young children competed in beauty pageants.
During her time on the show, Posey was captured smiling eccentrically for the confessional camera, which was memorialized in a viral meme that has been shared for the past decade. In the family statement Tuesday, her family called Posey the “smiling girl,” referring to the popular GIF.
In 2016, Posey’s mom shared on an episode of “Toddlers and Tiaras” that her daughter started pageants when she was 3 years old.
“She’s a pro when she gets to that stage,” Posey Gatterman said of her daughter. “She’ll say she’s nervous, but once she gets to that point, she’s a pro.”
‘TODDLERS AND TIARAS’ STAR KAILIA POSEY, 16, DEAD BY SUICIDE: REPORT
Pursue your pageant dreams
Posey continued to enter pageants after her time on the show. She documented her life as a pageant star on her Instagram, which has more than 37,000 followers.
Posey’s most recent competition was in February at Miss Teen Washington, where she placed second. She also received the Miss Photogenic award, which was chosen by the public.
“One word. Thank you,” Posey shared on Instagram along with images from the contest.
The family noted in their statement that Posey has “earned countless crowns and trophies after competing on the pageant circuit her entire life.”
“A highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist”
In addition to her time competing in pageants, Posey has spent her time practicing contortion. Her mother started training her when she was only 3 months old.
The young star had a separate Instagram account, dedicated solely to her contortionist hobby.
Four days ago, Posey shared her first post on her second Instagram account. A video showed the teenager practicing her skills, and her comments section was full of praise.
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She often included contortion in her competitions, as she documented on Instagram. Posey shared an image of herself performing in Little Rock, Arkansas in April 2021.
“Had a great time this week, thank you to everyone who cheered me on,” Posey captioned her post.
Posey’s family statement noted that his “highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist has already led to professional touring job offers.”
Getting into acting
Although Posey doesn’t have a long acting background, she made her debut in 2018.
The teenager played the character ‘Agnes’ in the Netflix horror film ‘Eli’, which premiered in 2019.
“Aviation Enthusiast”
According to her family’s statement, the late teenager also had a “lifelong” passion for aviation.
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His “dream was to continue in the entertainment industry while pursuing his commercial pilot’s license,” the statement said.
“Our hope is that she will be remembered for her gentle spirit and the way she touched so many lives in a positive way,” the family statement concluded,
The family also set up a Whatcom Community Foundation fund in Posey’s name, with all contributions going to “provide resources to help students in crisis.”
Lorraine Taylor of Fox News contributed to this report.
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