Announcing the heartbreaking news on Facebook, the teen's mother Marcy Posey Gatterman writes she's at a loss for words as her 'beautiful baby girl is gone.'
- May 4, 2022
AceShowbiz - Former "Toddlers & Tiaras" star Kailia Posey has passed away at a young age. The teen beauty queen's mother Marcy Posey Gatterman broke the shocking news via social media on Monday, May 2.
Making use of her Facebook account, Marcy mourned the death as writing, "I don't have words or any thoughts." She added, "A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever."
The grieving mom posted the message along with a picture of her late daughter smiling in a sparkly dress which she wore to a prom last month. Marcy did not disclose the cause of Kailia's death. The former reality TV star was only 16 years old.
It appears that Kailia was involved in an incident as her death is currently under investigation by Washington authorities. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office confirms to PEOPLE that it is part of a multi-agency investigation related to the death of the former TLC star.
Washington State Patrol could not formally the identity of the subject of the death investigation as the individual is a juvenile, but it confirms that it is involved in an ongoing death investigation. Washington State Parks Department also confirms involvement in the investigation.
Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Trooper Jacob Kennett tells the site, "Yesterday on May 2 at about 1:26 P.M., Washington State Patrol was called to assist Whatcom Sheriff's department to assist in a death investigation involving a minor at Birch Bay State Park."
Kailia starred in an episode of "Toddlers & Tiaras", which aired on TLC from 2009-2013. The reality series saw families as they prepped their children for beauty pageants. On the show, Kailia, who was 5 years old at the time, competed in the California Tropic Arizona pageant. She was famous for her reaction during an interview on the show which has been turned into online GIF as the "grinning girl."
Following her appearance on the reality series, Kailia continued to compete in pageants. In January, she announced she was going to compete in Miss Washington Teen USA in February. "One word. Thankful," she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post.
