Kailia Posey, ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ Competitor, Dies at 16

UPDATED 5/4/22 AT 8:55 AM ET: Posey’s family confirmed her cause of death as suicide in a statement shared with TMZ. The family shared, “Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life.”

Former Toddlers and Tiaras star Kailia Posey has died at age 16. Her death was confirmed by her mom, Marcy Gatterman, who posted the news of her passing to Facebook Monday (May 2).

“I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever,” Gatterman wrote alongside a photo of Posey posing a shimmering gown. She did not share her daughter’s cause of death; TMZ and Page Six report that Posey was involved in an “accident” in Las Vegas.

Posey began competing in pageants at age 3, her mom said on an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras. At the time, Gatterman described her then-10-year-old daughter as “a pro when she hits that stage.”

“She’ll say she’s nervous but once she hits that stage she’s a pro. She’s gonna beat you, every time,” Gatterman said on the episode, before praising her daughter’s talent.

“Kailia has a very good talent,” she said. “I mean, just completely amazing. I don’t know anybody that’s competition for Kailia.”

In an earlier appearance on the show when she was 5-years-old, Posey participated in an interview that quickly went viral because of her facial expressions; an image of the toddler was turned into a meme, which she later recreated on YouTube.

Toddlers and Tiaras ran on TLC from 2009 through 2013. Posey continued to compete in pageants long after her time on Toddlers and Tiaras came to an end. The teenager often posted behind-the-scenes moments from pageants on her Instagram, and shared on her account in January that she would be competing in Miss Washington Teen USA. She told her followers at the time, “I am so excited!”

About a week before her death, Posey celebrated her sixteenth birthday, posting photos with friends and family to her Instagram.