Child beauty pageant star's tragic cause of death revealed
A former star on the US reality TV show Toddlers in Tiaras has been found dead, aged just 16.
Kailia Posey appeared on the show when she was 5, and while it was just for one episode, she became quite recognisable after a face she made during an interview.
On Monday, Kailia's mother Marcy Posey Gatterman confirmed her death.
“I don’t have words or any thoughts," she said.
"A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever.”
In a statement to TMZ, Ms Gatterman confirmed the teenager had taken her own life just weeks after turning 16.
Whatcom County Medical Examiner in Washington State confirmed to Page Six the office was investigating Kailia's death.
State laws prohibit what authorities can release about the death, as Kailia is a juvenile.
Trooper Jacob Kennett confirmed to The Bellingham Herald just after 1.20pm on Monday, that Washington State Patrol was called to a state park in northern Whatcom County where Kailia was found. Several agencies are involved in the investigation of her death.
Teen was about to graduate with honours
Just days before her death Kailia had attended her high school prom and Ms Getterman had said on Facebook she was set to graduate with honours.
Kailia had competed in beauty pageants since she was three-years-old and continued to do so throughout her teenage years.
According to MO Outstanding Teen Organisation, Kailia was crowned Miss Springfield's Outstanding Teen for 2022.
However, she gave up her title in December when her family moved to Washington.
The organisation said it was "devastated" by the 16-year-old's passing.
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In February this year she competed in the Miss Washington Teen USA pageant, according to the Daily Mail, and in 2021 Kailia was crowned Miss Lynden Teen USA.
According to her profile on Miss Washington USA, Kailia loved entertaining and performing and had done contortion acts with Cirque du Soleil.
She also played Agnes in the 2019 Netflix horror film Eli and had planned on studying aviation after high school to become a commercial pilot.
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