‘Privilege to grow old’: 24-year-old influencer announces death in latest TikTok video

Last updated:Nov 5, 2024 6:10 PM IST

She had survived the disease and was in remission, but the cancer returned just months before she was scheduled to travel through Europe with friends.

Bella Bradford died of a rare jaw cancer. (Photo credit: X)

Bella Bradford, a TikTok influencer from Australia, died on October 15 after a long battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare jaw cancer. The 24-year-old announced her death in a posthumous video shared to her TikTok account on October 31. Bella, whose full name was Isabella Bradford, first shared her cancer diagnosis with her followers in mid-2021.

According to the New York Post, she was diagnosed with problems with her wisdom teeth and underwent several treatments, including surgery to remove the tumor and reconstruct her jaw. She had survived the disease and was in remission, but the cancer returned a few months before she was to travel to Europe with friends.

In her latest video, Bella expressed her gratitude to her fans for their support during her illness. She said, “I have terminal cancer and unfortunately my life has ended,” before continuing to film a final “Get Ready With Me” segment, which has been a staple of her content. She encouraged viewers, saying: “Filming these videos has really given me a sense of purpose (sic) over the last few months and also introduced me to a really friendly community of people.”

She reminded her TikTok followers to “live each day with as much meaning as the next” and wished them a “beautiful life.”

In the video, Bella showed her interest in fashion as she wore a dress as she made her final comments. Bradford wore a khaki halter dress, black ballet flats and a white cardigan. She paired her ensemble with chic oval glasses, a teddy bear pearl necklace and a brown baseball cap.

She concluded with a heartfelt message: ‘What a privilege it is to grow old. Thank you for allowing me to be myself on this platform. I felt truly excited every day to continue here and connect over our shared love of life and fashion.”

She was told she was a ‘palliative cancer patient’ and that her disease had progressed to ‘incurable’ stages.

According to the obituary, Bella died “peacefully” while surrounded by her loved ones. In lieu of flowers, her family asked people to donate to cancer support organizations such as Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Rare Cancers Australia. They focused on Bella’s courage and optimism in her battle against cancer.