Kailia Posey fans mourn loss after ME confirms ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ star killed herself

The 16-year-old was pronounced dead in Birch Bay State Park, Washington, at around 1.20 pm on Monday, May 2

UPDATED MAY 5, 2022

Kailia Posey was popular for her grin-face meme as well as being a contestant on 'Toddlers and Tiaras' (Photo: @kailiaposey/Instagram and Toddlers and Tiaras)

Kailia Posey, a popular baby contestant of the hit 2009 show 'Toddlers & Tiaras', died by suicide on Monday, May 2. Posey had risen to stardom after her meme photos became viral via the show.

Kailia Posey, who just turned 16, was leading a successful life. She started to compete in beauty pageants when she was three years old. As she grew up, she continued to compete in pageants and has also performed with Cirque du Soleil. While she was mostly focused on her pageantry career, the teen also dabbled in acting, portraying Agnes in the Netflix horror film 'Eli' in 2018. Just days before her death, she also enjoyed her school prom day. Now, her sudden demise has upset many.

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How did Posey die?

The 16-year-old was pronounced dead in Birch Bay State Park, Washington, at around 1.20 pm on Monday, May 2, 2022 according to Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Jacob Kennett. She was found hanging in the park near her family home. Trooper Jacob Kennet did not reveal anything further about the cause of death or whether or not reports of a vehicle being involved were true. However, Whatcom County Medical Examiner confirmed today, May 5, that the death was by suicide.

Initially, Posey’s mother Marcy Posey Gatterman revealed her daughter's death in an emotional Facebook post on May 2, 2022. She wrote, “My baby forever," as she requested privacy for her family to mourn her passing. Later, the suicide was confirmed by Posey’s family in another statement that read, “Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life." The family has now set up a Fund page called ‘Kailia Posey Teen Crisis Intervention Fund’ whose main goal is to get "much needed resources to students in crisis".

Kailia Posey died by suicide at the age of 16. (Photo: @marcyposeygatterman/Facebook)

Fans are emotional

Following the news of Posey's tragic demise, many users shared heartbreaking messages on Twitter. One person wrote, "I wish young ppl could see that things will almost always get better, suicide is not the answer when you’re just a teen. My mother took her own life when I was 11, it’s changed who I am as a person. The hardest thing to deal w is the Why…it’s always there."

Meanwhile, some fans were upset about the family's statement. One fan wrote, "Maybe I’m trippin’, but the statement from Kailia Posey’s family feels more like a not-so-underhanded attack against their own daughter. I just… Wow. Regardless, Kailia’s passing is a tragic loss. I have no clue what comes after this life, but I genuinely hope she’s at peace," while another said, "this statement from her family feel like an attack on her instead of mourning for her."

I wish young ppl could see that things will almost always get better, suicide is not the answer when you’re just a teen. My mother took her own life when I was 11, it’s changed who I am as a person. The hardest thing to deal w is the Why…it’s always there.
— vannahhh (@savannahsmokess) May 4, 2022

Maybe I’m trippin’, but the statement from Kailia Posey’s family feels more like a not-so-underhanded attack against their own daughter. I just… Wow. Regardless, Kailia’s passing is a tragic loss. I have no clue what comes after this life, but I genuinely hope she’s at peace.
— Skylar Ezell is a Black, Broke, and Bougie Writer (@Skylar_Writer) May 4, 2022

this statement from her family feel like an attack on her instead of mourning for her
— Kevin Eusebio • ᜃᜒᜊᜒᜈ᜔ ᜌᜓᜐᜒᜊ᜔ᜌᜓ (@kevineusebio) May 4, 2022