LOS ANGELES — Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who starred in TV show “Dancing with the Stars” and Beyonce’s “Lemonade” music video album, died on Friday at the age of 29, her family said.
“It is with profound sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful sister, Michaela Mabinty DePrince.
She was an unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story,” her family said in its statement.
She was adopted in 1999 at the age of four by New Jersey couple Elaine and Charles DePrince, who enrolled her in ballet classes.
Aged 14, DePrince was awarded a scholarship to attend the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School to study ballet.
Persons:
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Michaela, ”, DePrince, Misty Copeland, ” Copeland, Mabinty, Elaine, Charles DePrince, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Organizations:
ANGELES, Sierra Leonean, Facebook, New, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Boston Ballet
Locations:
Sierra, American, ’, Kenema, Sierra Leone, malnourishment, New Jersey