Trailblazing Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince Passes Away at 29

 

Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a trailblazer and inspiration in the ballet world, has passed away at the age of 29, according to an announcement on her Instagram page on Friday. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. “Her life was one of grace, purpose, and strength,” the post read. “Her unwavering dedication to her craft, her humanitarian work, and her resilience in the face of incredible challenges will continue to inspire. She was a beacon of hope, showing that beauty and greatness can emerge from even the darkest places.”

DePrince’s family also shared their grief in a statement following the news of her passing.

“I am in shock and overwhelmed with sadness. My beautiful sister is no longer with us,” Mia DePrince wrote. “From the beginning of our journey in Africa, sharing a mat in the orphanage, Michaela and I would create our own musical theater and ballets. When we were adopted, our parents nurtured those dreams, and she blossomed into the gracefully strong ballerina so many of you admired. She was truly an inspiration.”

Born as Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, DePrince was sent to an orphanage at the age of three after losing both parents during the country’s civil war. At the orphanage, she faced mistreatment and malnutrition, as she shared in a 2012 interview with the Associated Press.

“I lost both my parents, and I stayed in the orphanage for about a year, where I was treated poorly because of my vitiligo,” she explained. “We were ranked by numbers, and I was number 27—the least favored—so I received the least food, clothes, and care.”