A Sierra Leonean ballerina, who appeared on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and in Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ music video album, died on Friday at the age of 29 – leaving behind an eerie final post on Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, captioned what would be her final post with a hand-gestured peace sign emoji, as she stood dressed in an all-black Nike ensemble.
Also linked to the post is soul-singer Khalid’s song ‘Better’ which features lyrics: ‘Nothing feels better than this, nothing feels better.’
The dancer’s death comes just one week after her adoptive mother, Elaine ‘Mamma E’ DePrince, also died, with the ballerina’s sister Mia DePrince announcing the family tragedy on her Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, died on Friday at the age of 29 – leaving behind an eerie final post on Instagram
DePrince appeared on ‘ Dancing with the Stars ’ and in Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ music video album
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DePrince’s family have not yet offered a cause of death for ‘Mamma E’ or the young dancer – who won waves of fans by sharing her story as an orphan who escaped violence in Sierra Leone to become a world-renowned ballerina.
The adopted-ballerina’s final post slides to a secondary photo of her in another, sportier, gray and white Nike-sponsored outfit, looking off into the distance.
Following DePrince’s passing, the post flooded with sympathy messages.
One comment read: ‘Heartbroken at the news. Related so much to you as a girl adopted at a young age and aspiring to dance. Rest in paradise.’
Another read: ‘I’m still in shock and not knowing what happened is even more heartbreaking.’
One user on Reddit said: ‘This one really hit me hard and I am not taking this very easy at all. I cried when she finally had her opportunity in Beyonce’s video. I cried at how proud of her I was. Still crying over this.’
DePrince’s family have not yet offered a cause of death
The dancer’s death comes just one week after her adoptive mother, Elaine ‘Mamma E’ DePrince passed away, as announced on the ballerina’s sister Mia DePrince’s Instagram
DePrince’s sister, 30, also shared a touching post of the two as young girls on Instagram yesterday.
The post read: ‘I am truly in a state of shock and deep sadness. My beautiful sister is no longer here. From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theater plays and act them out.’
The trailblazing ballerina’s sister continued gushing over fond memories from the sister’s childhood.
‘We created our own ballets. She would choreograph, and I was the composer and conductor. When we got adopted, our parents quickly poured into our dreams and arose the beautiful, gracefully strong ballerina that so many of you knew her as today.
‘I love you, my beautiful Butterfly,’ the post concluded.
Born Mabinty Mangura, the ballerina was malnourished and mistreated in an orphanage in the early years of her life, before she was adopted by a couple in New Jersey at the age of four.
Mia DePrince, 30, shared a touching post of the two sisters as young girls on Instagram Friday
In announcing her death on Friday, DePrince’s spokesperson said her ‘artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond
In announcing her death on Friday, DePrince’s spokesperson said her ‘artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond.
‘Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,’ the statement read.
DePrince was an avid humanitarian often advocating for children affected by conflict and violence.
She served as an Ambassador for War Child Holland and would often ‘fly to third-world countries to provide orphans and children with dance classes,’ her sister shared on Instagram.
In lieu of flowers, DePrince’s family has asked people to donate to War Child, an organization the famed-ballerina supported.