Zhanna Samsonova, known to her social media followers as Zhanna D’Art, has allegedly died from starvation after going on an exclusive exotic fruit diet in Malaysia. She was 39-years-old.
Samsonova was a Russian national who used her large social media bases on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to promote a vegan lifestyle and raw food diets. After a friend of Zhanna’s urged her to seek medical treatment, the influencer finally decided to get help while she was in Southeast Asia, where she is believed to have died on July 21st.
That very friend that tried to warn Samsonova anonymously told Newsflash after hearing the sad news:
“A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted, with swollen legs oozing lymph. They sent her home to seek treatment. However, she ran away again. When I saw her in Phuket, I was horrified.
I lived one floor above her and every day I feared finding her lifeless body in the morning. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn’t make it.”
Though the official cause of death has not been confirmed, many have reported that starvation played a role in her death, though the influencer’s mother believes that her daughter passed away from an infection similar to cholera. That type of illness could very well be likely considering that Zhanna only ate fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, juices, and fruit smoothies for the past four years.
It is believed that the “food-fluencer” had switched to a raw foods vegan lifestyle after seeing some of her peers appear to be older than their actual ages while eating non-restrictive diets. Samsonova allegedly disliked what eating processed and “junk” foods could do to the body.
Zhanna described her social media presence as:
“I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.”
Many of her close friends and family were stuck in a tough spot, being happy that she was following her dreams and being an internet influencer, but on the other hand being very worried for her health and well-being. Another anonymous source described the situation as:
“Zhanna’s idle stagnation was causing her to melt before our eyes, but she believed everything was fine. Only her eyes, merry eyes, and gorgeous hair compensated for the dreadful sight of a body tortured by idiocy. Forgive me if it sounds harsh.”
Raw food diets can lead to a number of health benefits, but only if done correctly while also ensuring that the body gets the calcium and Vitamin D that it needs to survive. Failing to obtain the right nutrients in a diet can lead to low B12 levels, which in turn can turn into anemia, heart disease, and nervous system damage.
Fans of the influencer believe strongly against the idea that her diet is what lead to her demise at the young age of 39. Friends and family of Zhanna are still waiting for a medical report and official cause of death.
