"Heaven gained an angel": Child star found dead at 16

<p>Child star Kailia Posey, who shot to fame in the hit show about US child pageants Toddlers &amp; Tiaras, has died at just 16 years of age.</p> <p>Posey's heartbroken mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, wrote on Facebook earlier this week, “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.”</p> <p>Her family have also confirmed that the manner of her death was suicide. They said: “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 life.</p> <p>“She won countless crowns and trophies after competing on the pageant circuit her entire life. Her highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist had already led to professional touring job offers, and she had recently been selected to be a cheerleader at her high school next fall.”</p> <p>Posey was pronounced dead in Birch Bay State Park, in Washington, at around 1:20 pm on Monday. This is roughly a 30-minute drive away from her family home in Lynden. </p> <p>Posey had just celebrated her 16th birthday on April 19, according to posts from her friends and family on social media.</p> <p>Lynden’s cheerleading team shared a series of tributes to its Instagram, along with the two quotes: “Please stay. The world is better with you in it” and the second being: “Speaking a few kind words might be the most important thing you will do today.”</p> <p>Posey was a young star on the TLC reality series, which ran from 2009 to 2013. The show featured families who prepared their children to compete in beauty pageants. She became a popular face online when her adorable “evil” grin went viral.</p> <p>In a throwback scene from Toddlers and Tiaras, Kailia’s mum described her then 10-year-old daughter as a “cuddling puppy and a spicy little monkey.”</p> <p>She continued: “When Kailia was younger, and she was three, she started doing pageants and she’s a pro when she hits that stage.</p> <p>“She’ll say she’s nervous but once she hits that stage she’s a pro.”</p> <p>She kept up with the pageant circuit as a teen and even announced on Instagram in January that she was gearing up to compete as Miss Washington Teen USA in February.</p> <p>Heartbroken fans have taken to Instagram to share their prayers.</p> <p>“Can’t even believe this has happened. I’m praying for you guys to get through this. She always was so kind to all of us,” commented America’s Got Talent competitor Kadan Bart Rockett.</p> <p>“playing soccer with you is now a core memory. heaven gained an angel,” added another friend.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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