Kailia Posey of the "Grinning Girl" GIF fame dies by suicide

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 5, 2022 | Dhupali Das

On Wednesday night, Steve Gatterman, the mourning father, posted a heartbreaking statement on Facebook, announcing that his daughter had taken her own life. 

Digital Desk: Kailia Posey, famous for her role in the reality TV show "Toddlers and Tiaras" and for becoming the "Grinning Girl" GIF, died on Tuesday at the age of 16.

On Wednesday night, Steve Gatterman, the mourning father, posted a heartbreaking statement on Facebook, announcing that his daughter had taken her own life. He claimed that she ended her 'earthly life' due to a hasty decision.

Steve Gatterman's statement read, "Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately, she decided to end her earthly life in one impetuous moment."

"We are completely shattered as a family and left with more questions than answers. We ask for privacy as we attempt to find ways to cope with the senseless loss of our beautiful girl. We have no further statement," he added. 

Moreover, in his caption, Gatterman appealed to the media to refrain from contacting, texting, messaging or bugging their friends and family. 

Posey's family has started a fund in her honour to assist students in need. 

Meanwhile, Marcy Posey Gatterman, the late actress's mother, also confirmed the death on Facebook on Tuesday, alongside a photo of her daughter. She also asked that her admirers respect their privacy.

"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," she wrote.

When Posey first appeared on the American reality show in 2012, she was only five years old. She was one of the show's contestants in the episode titled "California Tropic Arizona."

At the onset of the meme craze, her brief appearance, in which she could be seen scrunching up her face and making a stupid expression, became a popular GIF known as the 'Grinning Girl.'

Posey later played Agnes in the Netflix horror film 'Eli' (2019). She competed in several pageants and received numerous awards as a result. She was recently named Miss Teen Washington's second runner-up.

Posey wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a commercial pilot by continuing her job in the entertainment sector.

Notably, she was chosen to be a cheerleader at her high school next year in the autumn, just days before she died.