LYNDEN, Wash. – Kailia Posey’s family confirms in a social media post that the 16-year-old took her own life in what they call “one impetuous moment.”
They ask the national media to stop calling, texting, messaging, and bothering their family and friends.
They say they will make no further statements.
Kailia gained fame as a five-year-old contestant on the TLC show “Toddlers and Tiaras,” and by a viral GIF of her smiling.
She had a role in the Netflix movie ELI and continued to compete in pageants during her short life.
She was most recently named second runner-up in the 2021 Miss Teen Washington pageant.
Her talent was as a contortionist, which her family says led to professional touring job offers.
A fund in Kailia’s name has been set up to help provide resources to help students in crisis.
