One of TikTok’s brightest stars has passed away.
South Africa’s Beandri Booysen has died following a life-long battle with the Progeria, her family confirmed. She was 19.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri Booysen, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women,” her mother Bea Booysen wrote, via translation, on Facebook Dec. 18. “Beandri was not long known for her vibrant personality and infectious laugh but also as the last surviving individual in South Africa living with Progeria—a rare genetic condition that causes children to age prematurely.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Progeria—also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome—is an “extremely rare, progressive genetic disorder. It causes children to age rapidly, starting in their first two years of life.”
According to the site, the average life expectancy is 15 with some individuals living to around 20 years old.