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Who was Ayesha Faines' boyfriend? Journalist and ‘Grapevine TV' panelist dead at 35

Ayesha Faines' most recent work was with Grapevine TV, a Black-centric website that focused on millennials issues

Ayesha K Faines, a broadcast and print journalist who was working with the website Grapevine TV, died suddenly on July 2, 2021, at age 35. No cause of death has been reported. 

Faines completed her graduation from Yale University. She worked as a TV journalist in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2008 and then for My9TV/FOX in New York City. When she was freelancing, her work and commentary appeared on MTV, Essence, Entertainment Tonight, Hot 97, Afropunk and The Michael Baisden Radio Show. She was also a columnist for Zora magazine. Her most recent work was with Grapevine TV, a Black-centric website that focused on millennials issues. Faines founded Women Love Power, a platform that aims to empower women. She always kept her love life a secret. 

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Apart from Faines, several other journalists have lost their lives in the past few years, including, Christopher Sign, Jenny Lenzini, Robert Kekaula and Ahmed Hassan.

Who was Ayesha Faines' boyfriend?

As per a report, she was not married and it is not known if she had a boyfriend. WJXT anchor Melanie Lawson called Faines "such a bright light" in a tribute to her former co-worker. "When she spoke it was like listening to poetry," she added. "I was always so proud of her accomplishments after she left the station," Lawson continued. "Ayesha was also a fierce supporter of women. She never said a disparaging word about any woman so I wasn't surprised to see her use her voice for women's rights. She was a wonderful friend and journalist. This news is just devastating. My heart is broken for her family. I know she meant the world to them."

The GrapeVine tweeted, "Ashley here. I remember the day I met Ayesha. I was 14 years old and she was so happy and so bubbly, I couldn’t help but ask my sister, “Who is that girl?” Years later we connected over a project I was working on called, The Grapevine. I knew she would be perfect for the show." The further said, "Ayesha was a force on the show and in real life. Often counseling me both personally and professionally when life became too much. She always reminded me that optimism is the key to get through any situation," and "We are trying to hold on to that optimism now. Ayesha is a once-in-a-lifetime person. Our beauty and brain. We will hold her in our hearts eternally."

Doug Rubenstein, friend and fellow Grapevine panelist, tells PEOPLE, "She was just good — good-hearted, good-natured, good to talk to, good to work with. We're all just like, 'Why her, why Ayesha?' If you met her you loved her, and anyone who doesn't know her should."