Renowned Nigerian transgender model, Fola Francis, has sadly passed away. The fashion designer and advocate for the LGBT community reportedly lost her life in a drowning incident on December 20, 2023, at IIashe beach in Lagos.
Vincent Desmond, a freelance journalist, officially announced her death in a statement released on Friday.
“Fola Francis served as a source of inspiration and illumination for us and many others. We are profoundly saddened by her untimely departure.
“The details of a memorial service will be communicated at a later date, and we kindly request privacy for her friends and family during this difficult period,” he conveyed.
Fola made history as the first Nigerian transgender individual to grace the runway at Lagos Fashion Week, showcasing for brands such as Cute-Saint and Fruché.