Tragic Death of Vegan Food Influencer Zhanna D’art
In a shocking turn of events, vegan raw food influencer Zhanna D’art, also known as Zhanna Samsonova, has tragically passed away at the young age of 39. Friends and family of the Russian influencer revealed that she died of starvation and exhaustion, allegedly due to her strict “completely raw vegan diet” that she followed while residing in Malaysia.
For the past four years, Ms. Samsonova consumed a diet consisting solely of “raw” vegan food, mainly fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, and fruit smoothies and juices, according to her mother. The mother attributed her daughter’s death to a “cholera-like infection,” although the official cause of death has not been disclosed. Reports state that Ms. Samsonova died on July 21st while on a tour of Southeast Asia.
A close friend of the influencer expressed concern about her well-being, stating that she appeared exhausted and had swollen legs oozing lymph when they last met in Sri Lanka a few months ago. The friend, who wished to remain anonymous, lived in close proximity to Ms. Samsonova and worried about finding her lifeless body each morning. Despite their efforts to convince her to seek treatment, Ms. Samsonova did not survive.
Prior to her untimely demise, the vegan influencer had been absent from social media for approximately seven weeks. Her final Instagram post featured a video of the Durian fruit, with a caption expressing her excitement for Durian Season in Thailand.
Among her online presence, Ms. Samsonova had over 16,000 followers on Instagram and garnered more than 20 million views on TikTok. However, her tragic end reminds us of the dangers that extreme diets can pose. There have been past instances of individuals starving to death due to an extreme raw foods diet.
Just last year, a vegan mother from Florida was sentenced to life imprisonment for the malnutrition death of her 18-month-old son, who was fed a diet consisting only of raw fruits and vegetables. Sheila O’Leary was convicted of several charges, including first-degree murder and child neglect, after her son, Ezra, weighed a mere 17 pounds at the time of his passing in September 2019.
The tragic demise of Zhanna D’art serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet. While the vegan lifestyle can have numerous benefits, it is crucial to prioritize one’s health and ensure that all nutritional needs are met to avoid severe consequences.