Carol Acosta, an influencer and mother-of-two, has died aged 27.
Acosta, 27, a prominent influencer known online as Killadamente, tragically passed away while dining with her family in a New York restaurant on Saturday.
Fans have been left heartbroken, with one writing: “Carol, you were more than an influencer—you were a beacon of hope and self-love for so many of us. Your words taught me to embrace my flaws and celebrate my body. Thank you for everything you gave us. Rest in peace, queen.”
“It’s hard to believe that someone with such a bright spirit could be taken so soon. Your laughter, energy, and positivity will live on in the hearts of everyone you touched,” adds a second.
“I’ve followed you since the beginning, and you’ve inspired me every single day. Your strength and confidence helped me overcome so much. My heart is broken, but I’ll always carry your lessons with me. Fly high, angel,” a third agrees.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by Acosta’s younger sister, Khatyan, who shared a touching tribute on Instagram.
Posting a photo of the two of them smiling on an airplane, she wrote: “I love you sister and I will always love you. I give thanks to God for giving me a sister like you with your big heart. Rest in peace, my sister.”
In a follow-up video, Khatyan tearfully thanked Acosta’s fans for their messages of support.
“To all the people who are sending me messages of condolences, I want to thank you a lot for being there and for your support,” she said. “And thank you also for supporting my sister while she was still alive.”
Acosta, who had amassed 6.6 million followers on Instagram, was widely recognized for her body positivity advocacy and motivational messages challenging societal beauty standards.
She often spoke candidly about her experiences with childhood bullying due to her weight, inspiring many of her followers to embrace self-love and confidence.
Acosta, who was also a mother of two, is believed to have choked on her food and experienced cardiorespiratory arrest following the incident.
Her family is awaiting autopsy results to confirm the exact cause of death.
A cousin of Acosta, who was originally from the Dominican Republic, commented on the tragedy, saying per LBC: “I know everyone wants to know what happened, but we still are not too sure and we are awaiting the post-mortem results.
“All I know is that she was having dinner as normal and she began to choke and have difficulties breathing. She had an attack of some kind, she was taken to hospital, but they couldn’t save her.”