Model and influencer Niece Waidhofer takes her own life aged 31

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Instagram influencer and model Niece Waidhofer – who often used her platform to spread awareness on advocacy in mental health – has taken her own life.

Waidhofer was found dead in her home just outside Houston last month, after a concerned family member called for a welfare check on the star. She was 31.

Public records indicate the social media star, who also had a successful career as a model, died on May 14.

Waidhofer – who had amassed 4.2 million followers on Instagram – regularly posted reels and other content where she openly discussed her mental health struggles.

Renowned Instagram influencer Niece Waidhofer - who often used her platform to spread awareness on advocacy in mental health - took her own life last month

Renowned Instagram influencer Niece Waidhofer – who often used her platform to spread awareness on advocacy in mental health – took her own life last month 

Waidhofer - who had amassed 4.2 million followers on Instagram - regularly posted reels and other content where she openly discussed her mental health struggles

Waidhofer – who had amassed 4.2 million followers on Instagram – regularly posted reels and other content where she openly discussed her mental health struggles

Family told TMZ Thursday that the influencer – who rose to fame in 2015 after starting the popular ‘Roast Me’ trend on Reddit – took her own life as a result of struggles with her mental health.

She was discovered dead at her mansion in Katy, a small city just outside Houston. 

‘Sadly, Niece took her own life after a long battle with mental health issues,’ a relative told the outlet.

They added: ‘She was very open with her followers about her struggles, even wanting to help followers who also suffered.’

Early last month, Waidhofer – who was single and had no kids – scrubbed her social media of nearly all her photos and videos, leaving only three posts behind.

Family told TMZ Monday that the influencer - who rose to fame in 2015 after starting the popular 'Roast Me' trend on Reddit - took her own life as a result of struggles with her mental health

Family told TMZ Monday that the influencer – who rose to fame in 2015 after starting the popular ‘Roast Me’ trend on Reddit – took her own life as a result of struggles with her mental health

Waidhofer was found in her home Houston sometime last month, cops said Thursday. They said they arrived at the residence after a concerned family member called in a welfare check

Waidhofer was found in her home Houston sometime last month, cops said Thursday. They said they arrived at the residence after a concerned family member called in a welfare check

The move raised some concerns from her fanbase, with rumors swirling on Reddit as early as last month that she had taken her life.  

‘RIP to Niece The strong ones who offer to help and advise also need help and advice. Life is happening to everyone. Rest In Peace,’ one user wrote in one post on May 28 that shared one of the star’s remaining photos – a selfie taken in March.

‘It appears she passed away,’ the user wrote. ‘My condolences to her family & friends, she will be missed. Her last Instagram pic as a tribute to her.’

Her last post was a selfie taken in a car, and was uploaded on March 25.

Early last month, Waidhofer - who was single and had no kids - scrubbed her social media of nearly all her photos and videos, leaving only three posts behind. The move raised concerns from her fanbase, with rumors swirling as early as last month that she had taken her life

Early last month, Waidhofer – who was single and had no kids – scrubbed her social media of nearly all her photos and videos, leaving only three posts behind. The move raised concerns from her fanbase, with rumors swirling as early as last month that she had taken her life

The posts included a short clip from 2016 of her dancing with her dog, Puff, who has since died

The posts included a short clip from 2016 of her dancing with her dog, Puff, who has since died

Also left was a 2015 photo of her and an an unnamed man announcing their engagement. The marriage plans never materialized - with Waidhofer reportedly single at the time of her death

Also left was a 2015 photo of her and an an unnamed man announcing their engagement. The marriage plans never materialized – with Waidhofer reportedly single at the time of her death

The other posts included a short clip of her dancing with her dog, Puff – who has since died – and a 2015 photo of her and an an unnamed man announcing their engagement.

‘From our very first date, I knew this was the man I want to spend the rest of my life with,’ Waidhofer captioned the heartfelt post.

‘Even still, there is nothing that could have prepared me for the elation I felt when he asked me to be his wife. 

‘My love, you are all I will ever want. I will love you with my entire heart until I take my last breath. Always<3’

Those marriage plans never materialized, however – with Waidhofer reportedly single at the time of her death.

Waidhofer was found dead in her home in Katy (pictured), located just west of Houston

Waidhofer was found dead in her home in Katy (pictured), located just west of Houston

The interior of the Katy residence where cops came across the body last month, after a concerned family member called in a welfare check

The interior of the Katy residence where cops came across the body last month, after a concerned family member called in a welfare check

A few months ago, Waidhofer posted an apology video admitting she edited some of her photos to appear skinnier and more curvy –  vowing to stop the practice because she didn’t want to perpetuate stereotypical unattainable beauty standards.

Waidhofer – who rose to fame by creating the Roast Me internet campaign, after she posted a photo of herself asking internet users to poke fun of her – was often subjected to toxic, disparaging comments in her posts.

The influencer had also apparently been suffering since the death of her father, who died in 2019 after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Those marriage plans never materialized, however - with Waidhofer reportedly single at the time of her death

Those marriage plans never materialized, however – with Waidhofer reportedly single at the time of her death

Waidhofer also had a successful career as a model. Her family revealed she committed suicide last month on Thursday

Waidhofer also had a successful career as a model. Her family revealed she committed suicide last month on Thursday

When news broke of her passing Thursday, fans were quick to share their condolences on social media.

‘She was one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram,’ one person wrote. ‘Mental health is super important. More than you can possibly fathom.’

Another noted how Waidhofer, whose real name is Deniece, often worked to help her followers through their mental health struggles while struggling herself.

‘The strong ones who offer to help and advise also need help and advice,’ the use wrote, before adding, ‘Life is happening to everyone. Rest In Peace.

Another added: ‘Do ur [sic] best to surround urself [sic] with people who are genuine with u [sic]. this should have been noticed long ago. RIP to her.’ 

When news broke of the influencer's passing, fans were quick to share their condolences on social media

When news broke of the influencer’s passing, fans were quick to share their condolences on social media

In Waidhofer’s memory, her family said they would be establishing a non-profit organization for mental health awareness, which would work to give grants for mental illness research.

The charity, the family said, will be called ‘Peace from Niece.’ 

Relatives, however, added that the late star was more than just her mental struggles – and that she took pride in the fact she wrote all of her Instagram posts herself, and shot the majority of her photos and videos without a professional photographer.

Niece was more than her struggles,’ her family told the outlet. ‘She was beautiful and kind, sensitive and funny, creative and talented, generous and compassionate, thoughtful and challenging.’

Family added that in death, Waidhofer was reunited with her beloved dog Puff as well as her father, William, who died of stage-4 pancreatic cancer in March 2019.

In 2018, Niece revealed on social-media the diagnosis, and said that her father chose not to undergo treatment for the disease. 

‘While it is so very painful to say goodbye, we take comfort knowing she is reunited with her father, her three grandparents, her Uncle Rusty, and her beloved Puff; and that she is now free to be herself and, finally, at peace.’ 

She is survived by her mother, Martha, and younger brother William Jr, 27.

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