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03rd May 2022

Toddlers and Tiaras star Kailia Posey dies aged 16

Kieran Galpin

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‘Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever’

Kailia Posey, who starred in Toddlers and Tiaras and later featured in a viral meme, has died at the age of 16.

Her mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, broke the sad news on Facebook, where she admitted to having lost the “words or any thoughts” to describe her loss.

Via TLC

“I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone,’ she wrote.

“Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever.”

 

A cause of death is yet to be revealed, though there are reports online that claim Posey was involved in a car accident in Las Vegas, Page Six reported.

A week ago, Kailia celebrated her 16th birthday, sharing a post on Instagram with her loved ones to mark the occasion.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CckBq9zLtAU/

The teen was best known for her starring role in Toddlers and Tiaras, which followed young children and their parents as they competed in beauty pageants from 2009 to 2013, but will also be remembered from a virl gif from the programme, when she was filmed grinning mischievously at the camera. Kailia recreated the moment in 2019, in a YouTube video.

Kailia kept up with the pageant circuit as a teen and even announced on Instagram in January that she was going to compete as Miss Washington Teen USA in February. She also later became interested in body contortion and launched an Instagram account solely for that hobby.

Fans of the teenager have been posting tributes in the comments under her Instagram pictures.

America’s Got Talent magician Kadan Bart Rockett left a comment on Kailia’s last Instagram post, which she shared in late April, writing: “Can’t even believe this has happened. I’m praying for you guys to get through this. She always was so kind to all of us. Rest In Peace.”

A pageant speaking coach who worked with her also wrote, according to Metro:  “I have experienced alot of loss in my life, but this one stings differently. Kailia was one the funnest and funniest young ladies that I have ever worked with in my coaching career.

“We just exchanged some fun messages recently and she seemed up in spirits. She had such an open care free spirit that had to caught fire everywhere that she went.”

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